Students

• Registration Recommendation: Both Cambridge University and Anglia Ruskin University recommend that all students register with a local GP in Cambridge upon arrival. This ensures continuity of care and allows the GP to have access to your medical records from your home GP.

• Why Register Early?: Early registration ensures that your medical records are transferred electronically (which can take up to 48 hours). This is important for ongoing medical conditions and any immediate care needs.

• Medical Care During Record Transfer:

  • If you require medical care within the 48-hour transfer period, please contact:

    • College Nurse

    • Your Home GP

    • NHS 111

    • If it is life-threatening, dial 999 immediately.

• Confidentiality: As an NHS practice, Huntingdon Road Surgery is independent of the University. All information shared with us will be treated in strict confidence and will not be shared with the University or anyone else without your consent, except in very rare circumstances.

• How to Register:

  • Online registration is available for students who live within our practice's catchment area.

  • College Address: Students with a permanent address (such as a pigeon hole) at College can use this address for registration, provided it is within the practice area.

  • This includes students from Girton College, Fitzwilliam College, Murray Edwards College, Lucy Cavendish College, Magdalene College, and St Edmund's College.

If you do not have an address in our area you can find a local GP on the NHS Choices website.   

Why Changing to Our GP Surgery is Important for Students

We understand that for some students, especially those with more complex medical histories or those on ongoing medication, changing GPs can feel challenging. However, registering with a local GP when you start at University is essential for the following reasons:

• Continuity of Care:
  Even if you prefer to stay with your home GP, it’s vital to register with a local GP to ensure there’s no gap in your medical care while at University. Our individual list system means that you’ll usually see the same GP each time, fostering a personal relationship and continuity of care.

• Access to Immediate Medical Attention:
  If you stay registered with your home GP, it can take longer for them to manage your care remotely, especially if urgent medical attention is required. Registering locally ensures you're able to receive quicker responses and care when needed.

• Expert Care for Students:
  We specialize in student health and understand the unique challenges you may face during your time at University. We aim to get to know you just as well as your previous GP and provide the support you need.

If you are reading this because your son or daughter is coming to study in Cambridge, make sure they register with a Cambridge GP.  Eligible patients can register with us here.

If you are under a specialist (e.g. hospital consultant) clinic and change GP, you do NOT need to change specialist.  Most patients prefer to remain under the care of their specialist at home.  That is absolutely fine.  

However you must inform that clinic that you have changed GP otherwise the hospital will not know and correspondance will get lost in the post.  Unfortunately NHS computer systems are not that linked up.

It would be helpful if you could ask them for your most recent clinic letter to be sent to us, or if you could get a copy and send it through to us once you are registered with us.

You may of course choose to move your specialist care to one local to Cambridge.  You should discuss that with your new GP once you have registered with us.  It is always best to stay with your previous specialist until we have arranged for you to see your new one.

Unfortuantely there are a few NHS services which are organised  geographically, and so are only available to those who live locally.  These include mental health services, eating disorder services and specialist services for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  That means if you have been under the care of one of these services and move to University, your home service may decline to see you.  University is a time of life when these problems are more common, or can get worse.  People with these problems also generally need to contact their GP more often.  It is absolutely essential that you register with us as soon as possible so that we know about you and can support you including, if appropriate, introducing you to our local specialists. 

Information and advice about all forms of contraception (also known as "family planning") is available from any of our doctors or from our family planning trained nurses.  Please let reception know you want to discuss contraception so that they can help you contact the most appropriate person.

We also provide emergency contraception, inlcuding the "morning after" pills and the coil (IUD). You can also get the emergency contraceptive pill from your local pharmacy without seeing a GP.  If you find yourself needing advice on after-sex contraception, it is always best to seek advice as soon as possible.

Your College Nurse can also provide advice about any of the above.

Alternatively you can book directly with the local sexual health and family planning clinic iCASH. 

All forms of contraception are free under the NHS.