Registering with a doctor
Don’t wait until you become ill to register with a doctor. If you are worried about your health you can call 111 for health advice (this service is free from any phone).
As a student studying on a course for more than six months, you're required to register with a local doctor throughout your period of study if you live on campus or in the local surrounding area.
Register as soon as possible after you arrive, in case you should suddenly need medical treatment. If you are not registered you may be referred to the local Walk In Centre for treatment, as a doctor is not obliged to see you (unless deemed a medical emergency).
NHS Choices postcode finder can help you find your nearest doctor and register with them.
The NHS APP
This is very useful app which allows you to book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, see results, view your medical records and communicate with the surgery. Please download this onto your phones.
Colchester Campus
Our Colchester Campus has its own health centre offering NHS services and is located behind Rayleigh Tower on the north side of campus. The centre is operated by our NHS partners Rowhedge Surgery.
GP Surgery Services
Available services include:
- Appointments with doctors, advanced nurse practitioners, practice nurses, health care assistants
- Triage system for emergencies during opening hours
- Specialist nurse clinics in diabetes, sexual health, contraception and asthma
- Diabetes support group
- Minor surgery
- GP with ENT specialism
- Community psychiatric nurses
- Blood tests
- Travel vaccines
- Immunisations
- Physiotherapy
Specialist clinics with external consultants/specialists in:
- sickle cell
- diabetes
Other ways to see healthcare professionals
Pre-bookable via our own reception, extended access appointments are also available at different surgeries in evenings until 8pm and weekends during the day.
Between hours of 6.30pm and 8am weekdays and at weekends urgent GP services are run by the Out Of Hours team which is accessed through ringing 111 or via the Urgent Treatment Centre.
Prescriptions
The GP surgery can issue prescriptions which are sent electronically to a pharmacy of your choice. This includes any pharmacy in the UK so that when you are away from Colchester you can still have prescriptions sent to a pharmacy near you. You can order prescriptions:
- via email to our surgery on hcentre@essex.ac.uk or
- via the NHSAPP
The local pharmacy will also delivery the medicine to the Students Union.
If you have access needs, see the AccessAble guide to University Health Centre at Colchester Campus.
Southend and Loughton Campuses
Use the NHS Choices postcode finder to locate your nearest doctors' surgery.
If you don't live on campus
If you don't live on campus and wish to register with a doctor/GP you can search for the nearest GP surgery in your local area. You must first contact the surgery you wish to register with to check if you live within the surgery area. If so, you will be asked to produce evidence of living at your address. If accepted by the surgery you will need to complete a registration form.
If you need any further help and advice, please contact or visit the Student Services Hub who will be happy to assist you.