Finding your local doctor, dentist, opticians and pharmacies
Search online at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or www.direct.gov.uk or call NHS Direct 0845 46 47. They provide a confidential translation service.                 

Registering with a doctor
The NHS is required by law to give you registration with a doctor in your area. If you cannot find a doctor who will accept you, telephone your local Health Authority and they will allocate one for you.

To register with a doctor, visit the reception staff at the doctor’s surgery or clinic in your area.  Ask them if they are able to take you on their register. If you wish, you can register directly with a woman doctor, or with a group practice that includes a woman doctor.

If the doctor accepts you as a patient, you will be asked to fill in a registration form. After a few weeks you will get a medical card, which you should keep in a safe place.

All of the services provided by the NHS are confidential but your doctor will keep a record of medical information about you. You have a right to see your medical records but there may be a charge for this.

If you find that you are not happy with your doctor, you have the right to register with another doctor. To change your doctor, you can go to any other doctor’s surgery in your area and ask to register. You do not have to explain your reasons for changing.

Alternative medicine
Alternative or complementary medicine – such as acupuncture, homeopathy and herbal medicine- is available in most parts of the UK. However, you will probably have to pay for treatment as it is not often available on the NHS. You can find out information about complementary medicine and the names of registered and qualified practitioners in your area by contacting:

The Institute for Complementary Medicine (ICM), PO Box 194, London SE16 7QZ.
Tel: 020 7231 5855 - Email:info@i-c-m.org.uk - www.i-c-m.org.uk

Emergency treatment
You can get free emergency treatment from the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department at any general hospital. You do not have to be registered with a GP to use the A&E service at hospitals.

Sex and sexual health
If you are under 25, contact  Brook’s Young People’s Information Service at Ask Brook or ring their helpline on 0800 0185 023 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm)

For information on key sexual health issues any time of day or night, call their 24-hour information line 020 7950 7700. - www.brook.org.uk

Young Parents
www.direct.gov.uk Provides information on becoming a parent and help with childcare costs.

www.fathersdirect.com Provides general information on the rights of fathers.

Help with alcohol problems
Drinkline free helpline: 0800 917 8282, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Offers advice, information and support to individuals concerned about their own or someone else’s drinking. Note: Drinkline uses Language Line, the telephone interpreting service.

Help for drug users
FRANK – the national drugs helpline
Free helpline (from landlines): 0800 77 66 00 (24 hours a day, seven days a week)
Email: frank@talktofrank.com - www.talktofrank.com
Free confidential information and advice for drug users and people who care about them. Note: Frank uses Language Line, the telephone interpreting service. The site includes an A-Z of drugs.

Under 18s
You can get free NHS dental treatment. Your local Primary Care Trust will be able to help find a dentist that accepts NHS patients, or you can search for NHS dentists online at the website listed on page 28.

Sexwise
www.ruthinking.co.uk Helpline: 0800 28 2930, open 7am-12 midnight everyday. Provides information on contraception, safe sex, relationships and puberty. Allows you to search for services anywhere in the UK.