A key part to enjoying university life is taking care of your health. Sometimes, this will mean that you need to seek medical care, both in urgent and non-urgent cases. If you happen to feel unwell during your time at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), there are health services available on the campuses in Cambridge and Chelmsford. It's a great idea to take the time to register with one of these services. Listed below are some services near the ARU campuses, but if you commute in you may wish to find somewhere closer to your home. 

Cambridge

ARU Medical Centre (Red House Surgery)

The ARU Medical Centre in Cambridge is located at MUM101 in the Mumford Building. It provides a confidential and comprehensive medical service during the semester. To contact them you can call 01223 320660 or visit their website.

Opening hours are as follows:

• Monday to Thursday: 08:30 - 13:00 and 14:00 - 17:00
• Friday: 08:30 - 13:00 and 14:00 - 16:00

To register, you can either fill out an online form on the Red House Surgery - New Patients page (make sure to select 'Yes - I am a student'). Alternatively, you can pick up a paper form outside the medical centre. Registration for UK students takes 48 hours, and for international students, NHS England will confirm your registration within the same timeframe.

To schedule an appointment with a GP, fill in the online contact form for non-urgent issues. If the form isn't working or you require help, you can call the surgery at 01223 320660.

Additionally, first-year university students under 25 are offered the MenACWY (meningitis) vaccine for free, providing protection against meningococcal bacteria. Register with a doctor upon arrival and book an appointment to discuss and potentially receive the vaccine.

Chelmsford

Rivermead Gate Medical Centre

Situated on the edge of the Chelmsford campus, this facility operates from Monday to Friday, 08:00 - 18:30. You can contact them on 01245 348688.

Peterborough

You can find a local GP using the NHS website. Simply type in your postcode and it will show you a list of nearby GP surgeries along with information on whether they are currently accepting new patients. Make sure to complete your registration to ensure access to local healthcare services.

Emergency Services

In case of an emergency, dial 999 (UK emergency services) and provide detailed information to the operator. If necessary, an ambulance will be dispatched to transport you to a hospital Accident and Emergency (A&E) department.

For urgent medical attention contat the NHS on 111.They can direct you to the best place to get help if you cannot contact your GP during the day, or when your GP is closed (out-of-hours). Depending on what you need, you might be advised to:

• call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency
• go to an urgent treatment centre
• see an evening and weekend GP (out-of-hours GP)
• book a callback from a nurse
• get urgent specialist support, for dental or mental health problems
• contact your own GP surgery
• see a pharmacist for help with a minor illness
• look after yourself safely at home

Seeking help with prescription costs?

If you find yourself spending a significant amount on prescriptions each month, consider the option of acquiring a prescription prepayment certificate (PPCs) from the NHS. These certificates cover all your NHS prescriptions, including dental prescriptions, regardless of the number of items required. Find out more here.