GPs and Emergency Treatment
A GP (general practitioner) is a local, family doctor who provides the main point of contact for general healthcare. We would advise registering with a local GP so you can access health care quickly while at Keele. You can find local GPs by using the NHS 'Find a GP' search. Consider how far away the GP is, how easily you can get there, and their opening hours. You may prefer to use Keele Practice, which is situated on campus in the Horwood area. This is the nearest practice for those living on campus and their GPs are used to seeing students and writing letters for the University.
If you become unwell and you're not registered locally, you can still contact your nearest practice to ask for emergency treatment for 14 days - after that you will have to register as a temporary resident or permanent patient. You can read about registering for temporary medical care here.
You can also visit an NHS urgent treatment centre for minor injuries and illnesses. You can find your local centre using this NHS search.
Dentists
You don’t have to register with a dentist in the same way as a GP, you can just contact a dental practice to check if you can make an appointment, However, if you would like to receive treatment on the NHS you will need to check if the dental practice is taking on new NHS patients - you may need to join a waiting list or pay for private treatment.
You can search for a local dentist on the NHS website.
Health Support on Campus
Keele Practice is the nearest GP surgery for those living on campus. It is situated in the Horwood area.
Well Pharmacy is in the row of shops outside the Students' Union building and can also provide some medical advice as well as filling your prescriptions.
Keele students can now access the Health Assured Student Assistance Programme (SAP). This service offers students access to support via a 24 hour confidential helpline, the ‘My Healthy Advantage’ app, and online portal too. The services include mental health support from trained counsellors and advisors who are ready to listen and provide help on issues including emotional and physical health, mental health, counselling, relationships, managing stress and anxiety, money issues, and legal information. More information about Health Assured is on the Keele website.
The University has a free counselling service on campus, you can visit the Counselling webpage for information about their service, how to contact them, and for some great self-help resources.
Other Contacts
Samaritans
Talk to them anytime you like, in your own way, and off the record – about whatever’s getting to you.
PAPYRUS - Prevention of young suicide
Provides confidential help and advice to young people and anyone worried about a young person
Tel: 0800 068 41 41
Staffordshire Mental Health Helpline
Weekdays 7pm - 2am Weekends 2pm-2am by phone 08088 002234 and by email staffordshire.helpline@brighter-futures.org.uk
Shout
Shout 85258 is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. By texting the word ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 you will start a conversation with a trained Shout Volunteer, who will text you back and forth, sharing only what you feel comfortable with.
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Wellbeing Service
0300 303 0923
Beat - Beating Eating Disorders
Providing helplines, support & a network of UK self-help groups to help people in the UK beat their eating disorders. Tel: 0845 634 1414.
MindLine Trans+
Specific mental health helpline for trans+, A gender, gender fluid and non-binary /people wanting to talk about their gender identity for the whole of the UK.
The Dove Service
After someone dies, you may experience natural feelings of numbness, sadness, anger or feeling unable to cope. It is also common to have difficulties with eating, sleeping, poor concentration, headaches and other physical symptoms. If you have suffered from a bereavement and feel the need to talk to someone about how you feel, Dove is a local organisation based in Hanley that can help. You can go to their website for more information and contact details.