Registering with a GP as a student in Walthamstow

Registering as a student

Anyone in England can register with a GP free of charge, whatever their nationality or immigration status. We are accepting new NHS patients and we register students from UCL, King's College London, the University of East London, Birkbeck, London Metropolitan University, the University of London and the University of Portsmouth, as well as students at any other college or university.

You do not need:

• proof of address
• photo ID or a passport
• an NHS number
• proof of immigration status
• a tenancy agreement or student accommodation letter

If you study away from home

You can only be permanently registered with one practice at a time. If your home is here in Walthamstow but you study elsewhere, you can stay registered with us and see a practice near your university as a temporary patient while you are away. If you live in Walthamstow for most of the year, it is usually better to register with us so your records, prescriptions and reviews all stay in one place.

Either way, register before you need help rather than when you are already unwell.

Exam stress and mental health

Study pressure, exams, money worries and being away from home all take a toll. You can talk to us about anxiety, low mood, panic, sleep problems, eating difficulties and stress. Make an online request during opening hours and tell us how you are feeling, and our team will arrange the right support. Our team includes GPs, psychologists, pharmacists and social prescribers, so you may be offered help from someone other than a GP.

If you need urgent help when we are closed, call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk. In a life-threatening emergency call 999.

Letters and extenuating circumstances

Please check what your university actually needs before asking us for a letter. Most universities operate a fit to sit policy and accept your own self-certification for short illnesses, so a GP letter is often not required and asking for one can delay your claim.

Where a letter is genuinely required, we will consider it. Letters and forms for universities are non-NHS work, outside our NHS contract, so a fee applies and they are completed alongside NHS clinical work rather than immediately. We can only confirm what is recorded in your medical record, which is another reason to contact us at the time you are unwell rather than afterwards.

Other things students ask about

Common questions from students

Can I register with a GP as a student in Walthamstow?

Yes. Anyone in England can register with a GP free of charge, and we are currently accepting new NHS patients. You can register online in about five minutes and you do not need proof of address, photo ID, an NHS number or immigration documents.

Should I register at home or at university?

If you live in or near Walthamstow for most of the year, register with us. If you are studying away from home, you can stay registered with one practice and use another practice as a temporary patient while you are away, or register at your university address instead. What matters most is being registered somewhere before you need help.

Can the practice help with exam stress and low mood?

Yes. Our team includes GPs, psychologists, pharmacists and social prescribers, and we can talk through anxiety, low mood, sleep problems and stress and arrange the right support. Make an online request during opening hours and tell us how you are feeling. If you need help urgently when we are closed, call 111 or use 111.nhs.uk. In an emergency call 999.

Can I get a letter for extenuating circumstances or mitigating circumstances?

Ask your university what it actually needs first. Most universities operate a fit to sit policy and accept a student's own self-certification, so a GP letter is often not required. Where a letter is genuinely needed, it is non-NHS work outside our NHS contract and a fee applies. See our page on non-NHS services and fees.

Do I need to register again when I come back after the holidays?

No. Once you are registered with us you stay registered, including during university holidays. Just keep your contact details, term-time address and mobile number up to date so we can reach you.