Please note that this website is no longer being updated. Please go to the NHS Choices website (www.nhs.uk) for information about local health services.
Urgent care refers to a situation in which a person needs attention but the situation is not immediately critical or life-threatening. In other words, there is no need for immediate emergency care. This should be dealt with by a GP, the out-of-hours service or a walk-in centre.
Good examples might include:
- a sprain,
- some infections,
- an acute, significant pain,
- severe diarrhoea and vomiting,
- high temperature (above 38.4°C).
Your local GP practice and GP out-of-hours service
All GP surgeries, when closed, have arrangements to provide advice and treatment to registered patients, to residents who are staying with registered patients, and to residents not yet registered with a GP.
This telephone service is open from 6.30pm–8am Monday to Friday, and all weekend from 6.30pm on Friday to 8am on Monday. It also covers all practices that close on Thursday afternoons.
When you call a receptionist will take details and an experienced clinician or GP will call you back. Many Tower Hamlets GPs work for this service. Call your GP surgery or 020 7377 7151 for more information.
Dental out-of-hours service
We offer an out-of-hours emergency dental service. People with an urgent dental problem will receive advice and may be offered an appointment. The service operates Monday-Friday from 6.30pm-10pm, Saturday-Sunday from 7.30am-3pm, and 7.30am-8pm on bank holidays. To access this service call the telephone triage service 020 7377 7151. From
Please note, out-of-hours urgent dental services will be relocated from 14 December 2011 to the Dental Institute, Newark Street E1 2AT. A map is available on our local dentists page.
St Andrews Walk-In Centre
Patients can walk in or ring for a same day appointment with a GP on 020 8980 1888. The St Andrews Walk-In Centre is at 1-3 Birchdown House, Devons Road, London E3 3NS. The centre is open from 8am to 8pm, seven days per week, 365 days a year.
The Barkantine
Patients can walk in or ring for a same day appointment with a GP on 020 7791 8000. The Barkantine Walk-In Centre is at 121 Westferry Road, London, E14 8JH. You do not have to be a registered patient to use the walk-in centre. The walk-in centre is open from 8am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday until 31 March 2011.
From 1 April 2011, the walk-in centre will operate 7 days a week, from 8am to 8pm.
Whitechapel Walk-In Centre
The Whitechapel Walk-In Centre is now closed. For all accidents and emergencies, please go to A&E in the new hospital. For non-urgent medical matters, please contact your GP. If you need medical advice or treatment out-of-hours (and are registered with a Tower Hamlets GP or a resident in the borough), please call 020 7377 7151.
If you do not live in the Borough of Tower Hamlets, please contact your Out of Hour’s service via your own GP.
Alternatively, other community walk-in clinics are available at:
The Barkantine Practice
121 Westferry Road
London E14 8JH
Tel: 020 7791 8080
Open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year
Tube: Canary Wharf is 10-15 walk away
DLR: Heron Quay or South Quay DLR stations.
Bus: routes D3 and D7 stop outside
website www.barkantine.nhs.uk
St Andrews Health Centre
1-3 Birchdown House
Devons Road, Bow
London E3 3NS
Tel: 020 8980 1888
Open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year
Tube: Bromley-by-Bow
DLR: Devons Road
Bus: routes 323 and 25 stop nearby
website www.standrewswalkincentre.nhs.uk
Sexual assault or sexually transmitted infections
The Havens: anyone in London who has been raped or sexually assaulted can come to the Havens. Women, men, and children can all attend. Specially trained, experienced professionals can give you medical help and advice, counselling, and practical and emotional support.
The Havens is at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, E1. Telephone 020 7247 4787 or visit www.thehavens.org.uk.
The Ambrose King Centre: a sexual-health centre offering a free and confidential service. No appointment is necessary. The doors open for registering at 8.30am and the team starts seeing patients at 9am. Opening times are as follows:
Monday 9am – 6pm
Tuesday 9am – 3pm
Wednesday 12pm – 4pm
Thursday 9am – 4pm
Friday 9am – 3pm
The centre is at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, E1 1BB. Telephone 020 7377 7306 or visit www.bartsandthelondon.org.uk/sexualhealth.
