Health advice

Woman talking to a counsellor

Looking after your health

Prioritising your health is crucial for achieving success and the Wellbeing team are here to help you deal with any health-related issues. We offer a variety of services including:

  • help with registering with a local GP
  • disability support and advice
  • mental health support
  • dedicated counselling services
  • emergency/out of hours contact support

Wellbeing support

Your wellbeing is important to us, so we have made sure you have support available to you during your time at UWL.

  • Welfare team

    A counselling session

    Our Welfare Advisers can support you during times of crisis with difficulties such as:

    • urgent mental health concerns 
    • homelessness 
    • sexual and domestic violence

    • stress

    Find out more

  • Counselling team

    A older student talking and smiling

    The Counselling service offers professional, specialist therapeutic and psychological support to explore any difficulties you may be experiencing. The team provides a safe and confidential space to talk about your life and anything that may be confusing, painful or uncomfortable – and is free for all current students.

    Find out more

  • Disability and Mental Health team

    A teacher accompanying a visually impaired person at university

    The Disability and Mental Health team are here to support you if you have a disability or a mental health need and need to get adjustments to make the most of your time at UWL.

    They also offer screening for learning differences so if you think you may have a learning difference, contact the team for support.

    Find out more

  • Interfaith support

    A woman wearing a black hijab and light coat

    The Interfaith Adviser is available to listen and chat in confidence (regardless of religious or non-religious belief) about any concerns or topics you may have. They are also available to advocate for you on issues related to faith and belief on campus.

  • Togetherall

    We have provided free access to Togetherall which provides you with 24/7 anonymous online support including resources, courses and a safe peer-to-peer platform. Sign up using your UWL email address.

    A woman with a notepad and pen comforts another woman, they are both sitting at a desk
  • Report + Support

    You can report any concerns concerning bullying, harassment, discrimination, hate crime or sexual misconduct via Report + Support. You can do this anonymously or share your contact details.

    A group of students seated in Heartspace with food and hot drinks.
  • Student Space

    Free 1-to-1 support for whatever challenge you are facing through your university and post-graduation journey, whether it is your mental wellbeing, your studies, money, housing or relationships.

    Student Space Logo

Frequently asked questions

  • How do I register with a local GP?

    To access healthcare, register with a local GP (family doctor). 

    Find a GP close to your home by using the search service below and inputting your postcode. You will see a list of GP practices that you can go to register yourself.

    Documents needed:

    • passport
    • BRP Card (or digital visa)
    • UWL ID Card

    We work closely with the local Florence Road surgery, and all enrolled students can register with them. They offer exclusive appointment sessions for University of West London students. The Surgery will always try to accommodate students who need an appointment outside of the exclusive session times and also offer an out of hour’s service.

    To register with the Florence Road and Bramley Road surgery, or your preferred practice, you will need your Student ID card and a Student Status letter. You will need to complete a registration form and a simple health questionnaire and return it in person to the surgery. You may also be asked to provide details of your previous GP and your NHS number. 

    The Florence Road and Bramley Road surgery team has both male and female doctors and nurses and they offer a range of services:

    • contraception and contraception advice, including emergency contraception
    • testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
    • family planning and antenatal care
    • minor surgery
    • phlebotomy
    • women’s health
    • travel vaccinations and advice
    • flu vaccinations for ‘at risk’ groups
    • chronic disease management

    If you live outside the Boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow, a temporary service can be provided in the case of an emergency. Alternatively visit the NHS website to find your nearest surgery.

    Surgery contact details:

    Bramley Road Surgery, 2 Bramley Road, Ealing W5 4SS
    Telephone: 020 8567 2111

    Florence Road Surgery, 26 Florence Road, Ealing W5 3TX
    Telephone: 020 8567 2111

    If relevant, you can sign a temporary switch of GP over the Christmas and summer period if you intend on staying with your parents in a different part of the country during this period. 

  • How can I access disability advice and support?

    The first step to accessing support is to register with the Wellbeing Service. You have the opportunity to disclose your disability on your UCAS form which informs the University that you have a disability. You will then be send an email promoting our service and inviting you to register with us. 

    You can also register with our service at any time, during enrolment or any time during your studies. To do so you can call us on 0208 231 2739 or send us an email to wellbeing@uwl.ac.uk.

    Alternatively you can speak to our team on the Student Services front desk and book an appointment with a Wellbeing Adviser. We offer a mix of appointments and shorter drop-in appointments for queries that require less time with a Wellbeing Adviser.

    We encourage you to disclose your disability as early as possible, so the correct support can be set up to help you reach your full potential.

    Find more information about the disability support and advice that we offer.

  • How can I get mental health advice?

    If you have any mental health difficulties during your time at UWL we are here to support you.

    Our dedicated Mental Health Advisers and Welfare Advisers can help you with advice, information and support. 

    We also provide a confidential student counselling service, which is free and accessible to all students. We  produce a range of health and wellbeing guides on the student portal and run a series of workshops throughout the academic year.

    If you have a diagnosed mental health condition you can register with us and the Wellbeing Advisers can advise what support may be available through reasonable adjustments and whether you may be able to get Disabled Student Allowances (DSA). 

    We also work with an Independent Advocacy service called Advent Advocacy who can provide you advocacy support if you are experiencing difficulties with a number of issues outside of University which is impacting on your mental health. 

    If you don’t have a diagnosis, but think you may have a mental health condition, the team can provide support and advise you on how to get assessed.

  • I need emergency help - what should I do?

    For emergency health issues

    For emergency medical help call 999 or go to the nearest Accident and Emergency (A&E) department. 

    The closest A&E departments in Ealing are:

    • Ealing Hospital,  Uxbridge Road,  Southall, UB1 3HW (no children's A&E)
    • West Middlesex Hospital, Twickenham Road, Isleworth, TW7 6AF 
    • Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow, HA1 3UJ

    The closest A&E department in Reading is:

    • A&E Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, Centre Block,  Craven Road, Reading, RG1 5AN
    • Tel: 0118 322 7020

    If it is not a life-threatening situation, but it is urgent, you should go to the Urgent Care Centre at Ealing Hospital, Uxbridge Road, UB1 3HW. Alternatively, you can call your GP (Florence/Bramley Road Surgery tel: 020 8567 211) or call for NHS advice on 111. 

    For urgent help on campus

    Call 3333 from any university phone or speak to one of the reception desks or to a security officer.

    If you are experiencing a mental health crisis

    If you can’t guarantee your safety and/or think you may hurt someone then you should call 999 and ask for an ambulance or report to your nearest Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department. 

    If your situation is not as urgent as above and you would like to speak to someone anonymously then you should consider contacting one of the following charities:

    The Samaritans(24/7 support)

    • Phone – 116 123
    • Email – jo@samaritans.org (response time 24 hours)
    • Write a letter – Chris, Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK, PO Box 9090, Stirling, FK8 2SA 


    Togetherall (students there for students)

    • 24/7 support, available 365 days a year
    • Sign up for free using your UWL email address

    Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM – specialise in supporting men)

    • 5pm-midnight 365 days of the year
    • Phone – 0808 802 58 58 (London) or 0800 58 58 58 (Nationwide)

    If you are not sure what to do

    Call Student Services on 020 8231 2345 (available Monday-Friday 9am-5pm).

  • I am pregnant - do I need to let the university know?

    If you are pregnant during your course, in addition to speaking to your doctor, you should notify your
    Personal Tutor so that we can assess any risk to you or your pregnancy. This is especially important if you are involved in clinical or laboratory work, work with chemicals or biological agents, work using machinery and equipment, or if the work involves lifting, carrying and moving heavy or awkward items (including handling people).

    For more information, please contact the Health and Safety Team on 020 8231 2745 or health.safety@uwl.ac.uk.

    You may also wish to speak to Student Services for information on how your pregnancy or taking time out
    of your studies might affect your student funding, your financial entitlements (eg benefits), or your immigration/ visa status. Contact Student Services on 020 8231 2345 or studentservices@uwl.ac.uk

  • What is the NHS and do I have access as an international student?

    The NHS (National Health Service) is the UK’s publicly funded healthcare system. As a student visa holder, you have access to NHS services, including general practitioners (GPs), clinics and hospital appointments. The NHS does not cover prescriptions, dental appointments and vision check-ups and will, therefore, still come at a cost.

  • How can I download the NHS App?

    The NHS App gives you a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services.

    You need to prove who you are to access the NHS App fully. 
    With full access, you can:

    • search trusted NHS information and advice on hundreds of conditions and treatments
    • find NHS services near you
    • order repeat prescriptions and nominate a pharmacy where you would like to collect them
    • book and manage appointments
    • view your GP health record to see information like your allergies and medicines (if your GP has given you access to your detailed medical record, you can also see information like test results)
    • book and manage vaccinations
    • view your NHS number (find out what your NHS number is)
    • use NHS 111 online to answer questions and get instant advice or medical help near you

    Download the NHS App on your smartphone or tablet via:

  • What free NHS services are available to me?

    Contraception methods

    To learn more about contraception and where you can get these products for free, please click here.

    Cervical screening

    Cervical screening (a smear test) is a test to check the health of the cervix and help prevent cervical cancer. It's offered to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64.

    To learn more about this test and how to book, click here.

    Flu vaccine

    The flu vaccine helps protect against flu, which can be a serious or life-threatening illness. It's offered on the NHS every year to people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

    To learn more about the flu vaccine and how you can get one, please click here.

    Useful contacts:

    • Ealing Hospital: +44 (0)20 8967 5000
    • The Ealing Dental Practice: +44 (0)20 8567 2235
    • Sexual Health London
    • Sexual health line (NHS): +44 (0)800 567 123 (24h)
    • Sexual health helpline (Sexwise): +44 (0)300 123 7123

Contact us

If you have any questions or need support please contact the Student Services helpdesk by phone or email in the first instance:

The Student Hub is the one-stop place where you can access all of our Student Services support online, 24/7, via laptop or mobile device.

Visit studenthub.uwl.ac.uk to take control and get the support you deserve.