Page updated: 5 August 2026
From the College Nurses
As College Nurses (Rachel Lloyd, Maria Gloag, and Sarah Winder-Worsley), we welcome you to Girton College, and we look forward to meeting you during the course of your studies. We would like to share some important information relating to health issues that we’d appreciate you taking the time to read prior to your arrival. Please read the helpful 'New student checklist' found at the bottom of this page to assist with understanding the UK Health system and what you need to do at the start of your studies.
We’re experienced Registered General Nurses who have undertaken additional nursing qualifications, enabling us to support students with a wide range of health and welfare needs. We are located in the Health and Wellbeing Centre down the A corridor (turn left at the Social Hub and go almost to the end of the corridor).
We offer assessment, support and advice for minor illnesses and injuries, mental health issues, sexual health & contraception, health advice, or more general support for all manner of worries and personal or emotional issues. If more specialised help or treatment is required, we will refer or point you in the right direction whether via your GP, the University Counselling Service or other local services.
Please see links below to further information you'll find useful before and just after you've arrived.
Registering with a Doctor
All Postgraduates are asked to register with a local GP (General Practitioner in Medicine) within two weeks of arriving in Cambridge. If you are already a resident in the UK, you can register from now. Our students usually register with the Huntingdon Road Surgery which you may do online. If you prefer to choose a different surgery in Cambridge, you can find alternative surgeries here. The main college postcode (to search with) is CB3 0JG. You might also find it useful to have the following health-related apps saved to your ‘phone: The NHS App and – specifically for Addenbrookes Hospital Cambridge - the MyChart app.
International students are eligible for free treatment from the National Health Service (NHS) - you will have paid a supplement before arrival included with your visa. You will have to pay a fixed fee for prescriptions. Please ensure you have a ‘phone with a UK Sim card, otherwise you will be unable to register with a GP/Dentist.
If you are prescribed medication, we suggest that you bring enough, in-date medication to last you a term, so that it can be replenished during the holidays. Please speak with the nurses if this may be an issue for you.
Accessing a Dentist
Dental problems cannot be dealt with by doctors, so make sure you register with a local dentist. Not all treatment is free, even under the NHS. If you are registered with a dentist in the UK, we suggest that you stay with this dentist and access routine treatment when you are at home in the holidays. If you are unable to register with an NHS Dentist in the Cambridge area, you may have to access private dental care. The nurses can signpost you to local private services but you will be charged for private dental care.
Personal well-being
You may choose to talk with your Postgraduate Tutor, one of the Nurses or your own doctor about personal problems. If you feel that you’d like to speak to a counsellor, the University has its own Postgraduate Wellbeing Service which you can self-refer to.
The College Library has a special collection of books on subjects related to well-being, together with a list of local and national advice agencies.
Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC)
The University has a dedicated Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) and the College has a Disability Liaison Officer, Ms Maureen Hackett. The College’s Accessibility information can be found here.
The ADRC also offer screening and support for neurodivergence, please see here for further information.
If you have any kind of disability or ongoing health issue it is important to register with the ADRC as soon as you can. Please also let your Postgraduate Tutor and the Postgraduate Administrator know so we can arrange any support that will assist you over your time at College and within the University, particularly if you require assistance leaving buildings in case of emergency (this would entail the creation of an evacuation plan). The further in advance of your arrival you let us know, the better prepared we can be to help you so please do declare any disability if you have not already done so.