Physical health

If you are moving away from home to start or return to study, it is really important that you register with a doctor (also known as GP – general practitioner). You should do this as soon as you can.

Registering as soon as you arrive will help to ensure that your GP can process your registration in good time, allowing you to access healthcare services early on if needed.

You'll need a GP in Liverpool for prescriptions, referrals, sick notes and general health care. Your GP should be your first point of contact for medical care for illnesses that you can’t treat yourself or with the help of a pharmacist, so don’t forget to save your GPs number in your phone.

The majority of LJMU students moving to Liverpool register at Brownlow Health Central, it is a large GP practice with 3 sites in the city centre where many students go to and also offers an eConsult Service.

Find out more information about GP practices available in the city centre on the Healthwatch website.

Confidential, expert advice and treatment of common health issues is available at every pharmacy, many of which are open late into the evening and no appointment is needed.

Care at the Chemist is a scheme that allows you to get medicines and advice for certain illnesses from your local pharmacy without having to go to your GP first. If you don’t have to pay for your prescriptions, you won’t have to pay for any medicines supplied through the scheme. If you usually pay for your prescriptions, you will only pay for what the item costs.

Use NHS Choices or the Livewell Liverpool directory to find your nearest pharmacy and check their opening times.

NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do. You answer questions about your symptoms on the website, or by speaking to a trained adviser on the phone. Depending on the situation you will:

• find out what local service can help you
• be connected to a nurse, emergency dentist, pharmacist or GP
• get a face-to-face appointment if you need one
• be told how to get any medicine you need
• get self-care advice

To get help from NHS 111, you can:

• Call 111
• go to 111.nhs.uk

If you have difficulties communicating or hearing, you can call 18001 111 on a text phone - use the NHS 111 British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter service if you’re deaf and want to use the phone service.

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The City Walk-in Centre is moving to new premises at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in the Linda McCartney Centre from 16 October 2023. The move will allow the new premises to operate closely with the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) at the Royal.

Walk-in centres are run by a team of highly skilled multi-disciplinary staff, who can provide consultations, advice and treatment for minor injuries and illnesses in both children and adults.

These include:

• Infections and rashes (N.B. if measles is suspected, you are advised to stay at home and phone your GP or NHS 111 for advice)
• Coughs and flu-like symptoms
• Ear ache and sore throats
• Cuts and bruises
• Minor burns and strains
• Emergency contraception and advice
• Insect and animal bites
• Stomach aches and upsets
• Urine infections
• Minor new eye problems.

Students should consider visiting a Walk-in Centre before attending accident and emergency (A&E) with a minor injury or illness. A&E departments are for serious and life threatening injuries only. If you need same day urgent care, please contact 111.nhs.uk or call 111.

You can find more information on Walk-in Centres in the Merseycare website.

Students should be aware of the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia and tell someone if they or their friends feel unwell. You can visit NHS.UK or NHS inform Scotland to check your symptoms.

Students need to know how to seek medical advice if they become concerned about their own or someone else’s health and to do this as early as possible.

You can call 111 for advice over the phone or go online to the 111 website.

If you are Deaf you can also contact 111 by textphone on 18001 111 or by 111 British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter service via the NHS website.

In a medical emergency do not delay - dial 999.

If you are deaf, have hearing loss or speech impairment, you can text the emergency services on 999, but you need to register your phone in advance. To find out more see emergency SMS.

If you are unwell, tell someone, preferably someone who can check that you are ok and call for help if you are not. Stay in touch with your neighbours and look out for each other.

It is vital for students to register with a GP and get up to date with their vaccines as soon as possible.

Measles is very infectious, it can cause serious complications and, in rare cases, can be fatal.

Measles can be more severe in young people and adults, often leading to hospital admissions.

Measles starts with cold-like symptoms and sore red eyes followed by a high temperature and a red-brown blotchy rash. If you experience these symptoms, call NHS 111.

The best way to protect yourself against measles is have 2 doses of the MMR vaccine. It is never too late to get the vaccine. There are no risks to your health if you get an extra dose. Young people are strongly advised to check if they had the MMR vaccine. They can check if they have had 2 doses of the vaccine with your GP and arrange a catch up now if necessary.

If a student suspects they have measles they should stay away from others for at least 4 days after the rash has appeared. Students should call NHS 111 if they think they might have measles or have been in contact with someone who has had it.

Meningitis and septicaemia can develop suddenly and can kill or leave people with life changing disabilities and health problems.

Meningococcal disease can be difficult to diagnose because it has been associated with other symptoms, such as severe diarrhoea and vomiting.

Symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia vary and can occur in any order. They can include:

• fever
• aching muscles and joints
• a stiff neck
• severe headache
• a blotchy rash that doesn’t fade when a glass is rolled over it

The MenACWY vaccine is available free to any student who has not already had the vaccine up until their 25th birthday. This includes any student born overseas. The vaccine protects against 4 common causes of meningococcal disease – MenA, MenC, MenW and MenY but not other forms, like MenB.

Higher Education students, particularly freshers, are known to be at increased risk of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia. Being in confined environments with close contact, such as university halls, hostels when travelling, or attending festivals, increase the chances of infection if unprotected.

If you suspect meningitis or septicaemia getting immediate medical treatment can be life-saving. Dial 999 without delay in a medical emergency.

Specialist information for students can be found in this NHS info leaflet.

Visit Meningitis Now for further information.

Mumps was circulating in England, particularly among 15 to 25 year olds before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and we expect infections to rise again once restrictions ease.

Mumps is a contagious viral infection. It can be painful and in rare cases can lead to the swelling of the ovaries, swelling of testes, meningitis and deafness.

Mumps is recognised by the painful swellings at the side of the face under the ears. However more general symptoms often develop a few days before the face swells. These can include:

• earache
• joint pain
• feeling sick
• dry mouth
• mild abdominal pain
• feeling tired
• loss of appetite
• a high temperature (fever) of 38°C (100.4°F), or above

The best way to protect yourself against mumps is have 2 doses of the MMR vaccine. It is never too late to get the vaccine. There are no risks to your health if you get an extra dose.

Anyone with symptoms should stay away from others and stay at home and not return to university until 5 days after the swelling started.

Young people are strongly advised to check if they had the MMR vaccine. Check if you have had 2 doses of the vaccine with your GP and arrange a catch up now if necessary.

Call NHS 111 if you think you might have mumps or have been in contact with someone who has had it.

It is vital that you register with a dentist before you need one, as emergency treatment can be expensive and difficult to access. The NHS will provide any treatment you need to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy. Regular check-ups can help you avoid more expensive treatment later and prevent future dental pain.

Due to COVID-19, the way that dental practices must operate has changed. Dental treatment is limited due to the higher COVID-19 risk involved in most procedures. Currently, there is a phased return to dental services reopening.

For up-to-date information on which local dentists are registering new NHS patients, and approximate waiting times for an initial check-up, call Healthwatch on 0300 77 77 007 or email enquiries@healthwatchliverpool.co.uk.

If you are anxious about visiting a dentist, you can ask Healthwatch for support and advice.

For emergency appointments only you can contact the Dental Helpline on 0161 476 9651 from 8am to 10pm every day, including weekends and Bank Holidays.

This service can only be accessed in an emergency, for example if you are in severe dental pain. You will be asked questions about the dental issue you are experiencing, and a dental nurse will assess whether you require an emergency dental appointment, and book this if required.

Please note
The Liverpool University Dental Hospital is unable to see walk in emergency dental patients during the pandemic.

Students in full-time education who are under the age of 19 are automatically entitled to full help with health costs (except travel costs, in which case they can apply to the Low Income Scheme). Make sure you fill in an HC1 Form to apply for help with health costs such as prescriptions and dental care; they are available in pharmacies and from your GP.

Students aged 19 and over entering higher education generally have access to their own resources and are no longer classed as dependent children. They can apply to the Low Income Scheme, using form HC1, the same as all other adults, to see if they qualify for help. For more information visit: NHS Help with Health Costs or call the Low Income Scheme help line on 0300 330 1343.

You can access sexual health services, which provide lots of services including emergency contraception, other various types of contraception, LGBT+ wellbeing support, a range of STI screening, referrals for some counselling, pregnancy testing, abortion referrals and some services offer cervical screening. 

To find out more about how to access these services, the latest changes to clinics and services, book a clinic appointment, or get more info on what these services can offer visit Liverpool Sexual Health.

Further information

• Advice and support relating to sexual violence 
• Support agencies relating to sexual health

Drinking (in moderation) is an enjoyable and usually harmless feature of student life. Being responsible with your drinking will help you have a happy and healthy time at university. It’s a fact that getting drunk regularly can have potentially serious physical, social and academic effects. For more information and advice about alcohol, visit the websites Drinkaware and Drink Less Enjoy More.

Almost half of 16 to 24 year olds in England and Wales have tried drugs at least once, most commonly cannabis. Sometimes it may seem that experimenting with drugs is part of the student experience. But always be aware that there is no shame in saying no. For more information and advice about drugs, visit Talk to Frank.

There is local free and confidential support for people experiencing issues with drugs, alcohol or mental health provided by We are With You.

Find out more about the support and local services available in your area.

Life at university can be busy and demanding so it’s really important that you take care of your wellbeing and take time to make sure you make the right decisions around food choices. What you eat can have an impact on how your mind and body works.

Eating well and having a healthy, seasonal balanced diet can not only help to improve how you feel, but it can also save you money and be better for the environment.

Cooking together with your group is also a really nice way to unwind, make connections with your new friends from uni and help you feel more settled into student life.

Further inspiration on cheap and healthy recopies to cook can be found online:

• BBC Good Food
• Cooking on a Bootstrap

You can find a wealth of advice about hundreds of health conditions by visiting the NHS Choices website.

If you have any questions at all about your health and wellbeing or what services may be available to support you, contact the Healthwatch Liverpool team for friendly, personal and independent advice.

Healthwatch Liverpool respond to enquiries, providing information and advice about the range of health and social care services and activities available in Liverpool. The team supports students to make decisions around their health and wellbeing and signpost them to appropriate services for their needs. We also gather feedback on peoples’ experience of services and get a view of what improvements they feel are needed.

For more information or advice about finding health services in Liverpool:

• Call Healthwatch Liverpool on 0300 77 77 007
• Text or WhatsApp Healthwatch Liverpool on 07842 552 878 
• Email enquiries@healthwatchliverpool.co.uk
• Visit the Healthwatch Liverpool website

The online directory for mental health and wellbeing services, activities and groups in Liverpool. You can also find wellbeing tips and stories or contact WellbeingLiverpool to discuss which services may be most helpful for you.