Everyone in England can register with a GP surgery for free; NHS guidance says ID, proof of address and immigration status are not required to register.
Wellbeing / Student support
Know where help lives.
Set up everyday healthcare, understand urgent routes and keep the essential safety numbers clear before you need them.
GP found, urgent route understood, medicines recorded and emergency contacts saved.
Start the guide ↓Use NHS 111 for urgent help that is not a life-threatening emergency; call 999 in a life-threatening emergency.
Keep your medicine names, doses, allergies and a trusted emergency contact available offline.
01 / Care connected
Register with a GP early.
Your GP is the normal starting point for ongoing health concerns, prescriptions and referrals.
Find a surgery
Use the NHS GP search with your postcode, then check whether the practice accepts patients from your area and offers online registration.
What you need
NHS guidance for England says you do not need ID, proof of address, immigration status or an NHS number to register.
University support
Also save your university wellbeing, counselling, disability and campus-security contacts. These services solve different problems from a GP.
02 / Care connected
Choose the right urgent route.
Knowing the difference before a stressful moment helps you act faster.
999
Call 999 for a life-threatening emergency. Give your location first, answer questions clearly and follow the call handler’s instructions.
NHS 111
Use NHS 111 online or by phone when you need urgent medical advice but the situation is not life-threatening.
Pharmacy
A pharmacist can advise on many minor illnesses and medicines, and can tell you when another NHS service is more appropriate.
03 / Care connected
Build everyday safety habits.
Confidence comes from small preparations that do not require you to live in fear.
Night routes
Plan a well-lit route, know your last reliable transport and tell someone when you expect to arrive.
Digital boundaries
Do not share passports, visa evidence, bank details or verification codes through unexpected messages or unverified forms.
Home safety
Learn the building exits, test your understanding of alarms and report broken locks, heating or safety equipment promptly.
Compare / decide
Which service should you use?
This is a simple orientation, not a diagnosis.
| Need | Start here | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Life-threatening emergency | 999 | Severe breathing difficulty, unconsciousness or immediate danger |
| Urgent but not life-threatening | NHS 111 | You need help deciding what service is appropriate |
| Ongoing or non-urgent concern | Your GP | Symptoms, prescriptions, referrals or continuing care |
| Minor illness or medicine question | Pharmacy | Self-care advice or help using medicine safely |
| Emotional or university-life support | University wellbeing service | Counselling, study impact or campus support |
Optional saved progress
Your action checklist.
Tick items off as you go. Progress is remembered between visits only if you allow saved preferences.
Official sources
Check the source, not the rumour.
Rules, fees and eligibility can change. These links take you to the organisations responsible for the guidance.