Oxford Health & Medical Advice

• There's a vast range of treatments available to the potential patient in Oxford, from acupuncture and jin shin jyutsu to cosmetic surgery. If you have a health complaint not serious enough to merit dialling 999 or going straight to the John Radcliffe Hospital, try www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk. It has a step-by-step self diagnosis process (click on the part of the body where your symptoms occur, follow the sequence of questions and find out whether you need to see a doctor), useful links, discussions, features and a comprehensive guide to the NHS. (To talk to a real person, call them on 0845 46 47 - they'll take your number and a nurse will call back.) To find more long-term healthcare in Oxfordshire, visit the NHS Choices website, where you can search for local NHS provision of all kinds (GPs, dentists, mental health services, opticians, maternity services, alcohol and drug addiction help, etc.).
• If you're still finding it tricky to find an NHS dentist in your area after seeking one via the web, you can always call the Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT)'s Dental Helpline on 01865 337267. If you need emergency advice or treatment, try the out-of-hours service on 0845 345 8995, between 6.30pm–10.00pm Monday-Friday and 9.00am–9.00pm at weekends and bank holidays. This service is available to all Oxfordshire residents (including temporary residents and visitors). Callers will be phoned back for triage and provided with either advice or offered appointments for emergency treatment. PLEASE NOTE that this service is for people with urgent or emergency needs only - it doesn't provide routine care or repeat appointments.
• Each different doctor's/dentist's practice will have its own rules about registering, but expect to need some major ID along the lines of passport or driving licence. Some surgeries may already have as many patients as they can handle, and will have to suggest an alternative.
• If you have come from abroad and are going to be here for more than six months, you can qualify as a resident and register with a surgery if you can provide your ID and a rental contract, or a bank statement or utility bill sent to your UK address. If you are staying for less than six months, you can still receive NHS treatment, but you will have to pay unless your home country has a reciprocal arrangement. For a list of those that do, click here.
• If you attend Oxford University, you can go and see your college nurse (limited hours each week at most colleges), or visit the medical practice that takes care of your college. Find out more on the Oxford University Health and Welfare pages.
• If you attend Oxford Brookes University, you can get help at the Medical Centre on campus, or at St. Bartholomew's Medical Centre, Manzil Way, Cowley Road, Tel: 242334. More info is on Oxford Brookes University Health and Welfare pages.
• For other questions not answered here, you may wish to consult the Department of Health's website, or call their Customer Service Centre on 0207 210 4850. We found them very helpful.

If you're new to all this, a good place to start finding out what you need to know to keep you safe and healthy is the website of the Family Planning Association (FPA). This charity gives straightforward information, advice and support on sexual health, sex and relationships to everyone in the UK. Here are the relevant info, help and advice services in Oxford:

• The Alec Turnbull Clinic, Raglan House, 23 Between Towns Road, Cowley, Oxford OX4 3JH (01865 456666) provides contraception, emergency contraception and on-the-spot pregnancy testing, counselling, advice and referrals.
• The GU Medicine Department (formerly known as The Harrison Clinic) is at the Churchill Hospital in Headington. Tel: 01865 231231. They offer information, counselling and free, confidential testing for HIV & AIDS and all other sexually transmitted infections. You can get a mini-check-up for chlamydia, HIV, Hepatitis B and C or syphilis (no examination necessary, just walk in) Mon - Fri 1.15 - 3.15 pm. A clinic for under-18s is held on Wednesdays, 3.30-5.30pm. Full check-ups and screenings are available Monday - Friday by appointment.

Both the above clinics like you to call first to make an appointment, but Alec Turnbull does accept people just dropping in - you may have to wait a little while, but they will see you the same day.

• The Terrence Higgins Trust offers a free, quick, confidential, drop-in sexual health screening service every Thursday evening from 6.30-8.30pm (info correct at 17/7/2011). Find it at 43 Pembroke Street (turn right off St Aldate's at G&D’s coffee shop and it's next to the phone box).
• What is it like having a smear test? Never done it before? Find out everything in our agent's confidential report.
• Check up by post: you can also do a self-test for chlamydia and gonorrhea by post. It's not quite as reliable as going in for a check up, but it's quick, painless, better than nothing and may also acclimatise you to the idea of having a proper check up, if the thought freaks you out. It's free for under 24s and only £15 - £25 (depending on how many things you want to be tested for) if you're 25 or older. You can order your test immediately at http://freetest.me.uk

• The John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford (01865 741166, Headley Way, Headington, OX3 9DU), and Horton Hospital in Banbury (01295 275500, Oxford Road, Banbury, OX16 9AL) both have Emergency Departments, open 24 hours a day. The John Radcliffe Hospital has a dedicated Children's Emergency Department. If you need an ambulance, call 999.

• www.netdoctor.co.uk
  Encyclopaedia, articles, interactive section and questions answered.
• www.drkoop.com
  a large and detailed medical encyclopedia.
• www.embarrassingproblems.co.uk
  The bright orange background may be alarming, but this is one of the most comprehensive health sites on the web. Select a symptom and receive a thorough briefing on possible causes, suggested treatments, and whether you should pluck up the courage to see your GP. Also features handy links to pharmaceutical and alternative medicince sites.
• www.bbc.co.uk/health
  General, impartial health and fitness site. Detailed information on a variety of issues, from men's health to travel advice, plus features, frequently-asked questions, and advice on dealing with the NHS.
• Dying at home: a few things the family should know
  For forty years, Daily Information has been committed to keeping people informed of useful things for living. The founder having died recently, we continue this tradition with some things it helps to know if you or a family member are dying.
• www.healthsites.co.uk
  Healthsites - your portal to medical and health information on the net is designed to help non-medical people and doctors find reliable health related information.