Advice and support for the armed forces community

General information

The National Health Service (NHS) provides health services. All NHS medical treatment is free, although you may have to pay towards the cost of medicines, some travel vaccinations, and the cost of teeth and eye care.

For information about health services in Croydon, visit the Croydon Health Services NHS Trust website.

Seeing a doctor

To register with a GP:

• NHS Choices has information on how to register with a GP as well as a search function to find your nearest GP;
• Telephone the Primary Care Support Service on 020 8335 1400, or;
• Ask friends and neighbours for the details of the GP they visit.

To register, contact the GP surgery and ask for more information about registering as a patient.

If you need to see a doctor at night or the weekends, telephone the surgery; there will be a recorded message telling you how to contact a doctor. Alternatively visit the Croydon Health Services information page to find out where you nearest GP hub is. We have three GP hubs in Croydon; the Hubs offer walk-in services and can also book urgent appointments with a GP. To book an appointment, you can call NHS 111 in advance for an assessment.

If you are not registered with a doctor but need to see one, you can receive emergency treatment from the local GP practice for 14 days. After 14 days you will need to register as a temporary or permanent patient.
 
In an emergency, go to Accident and Emergency (A&E) at Croydon University Hospital at any time, or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Finding a dentist

You can read about finding an NHS dentist. NHS Choices has a search function to find your nearest dentist.

The Croydon Emergency Dental Service - Croydent, is available at night or weekends for registered and unregistered patients. To make an appointment with Croydent phone 020 3402 1333.

Locating an optician

Opticians can test your eyesight and prescribe glasses or contact lenses. You can find your nearest opticians through the NHS Choices website.

Pharmacies and medicines

You can find your nearest pharmacy on the NHS Choices website.

To find out if you are entitled to free prescriptions call the NHS Health Costs Helpline on 0300 330 1343.

If you need regular prescriptions it may be worth getting a prepayment certificate from your pharmacy. For more information ask your pharmacist or call the Prescription pre-payment certificate information line 0300 330 1349.

Pharmacists can also sell non-prescription medicines and give you advice on minor problems.

Contraception and sexual health

The Community Health Centre provides free emergency contraceptive pills which can be taken 72 hours after unprotected sex. Free emergency pills are also available from many pharmacies, those which provide this service are listed on the Getting it on website (please note that this website is targeted at sexual health services for young people).

Our GP Hubs are based at three locations – Central Croydon, Purley and Parkway (New Addington).

You can find travel information and contact details for your closest GP Hub below.

GP Hub Central Croydon

Address: East Croydon Medical Centre, 59 Addiscombe Road, CR0 6SD

Car: Free and paid parking available within 2 minutes’ walk
Tram: 3 minute walk from Lebanon Road Tram Stop
Train: 5 minutes’ walk from East Croydon Train Station
Bus: Routes 64, 119, 194, 198, 433, 466
GP Hub Central Croydon location map

GP Hub Purley

Address: Purley War Memorial Hospital, 856 Brighton Road, CR8 2YL

Car: Free and paid parking available within 2 minutes’ walk
Train: 6 minutes’ walk from Purley Train Station
Bus: Routes 60, 166, 289, 405, 407, 412, 455 & 466
GP Hub Purley location map

GP Hub Parkway

Address: Parkway Health Centre, Parkway, New Addington, CR0 0JA

Car: Free parking available outside
Tram: 1 minute walk from New Addington Tramlink
Bus: Routes 64, 130, 314, 464, 664
GP Hub New Addington location map