Please note that for any life-threatening conditions, we always recommend that you should call 999 or go to your nearest emergency department immediately.

Access to urgent care for adults at HCA Healthcare UK

Our Urgent Care Centres for anyone aged over 18 are based in three of our private hospitals in London: The Lister Hospital, The Wellington Hospital and The Princess Grace Hospital. 

94% of people that visit our urgent care centres are seen within 15 minutes*, and appointments cost £120. Just walk in for a face-to-face appointment with an urgent care doctor today. 

Click here for more information on our urgent care centre for children.


*An average of 94.25% people were seen within 15 minutes from April 2022 to March 2023

What can you expect from urgent care?

  • Is an Urgent Care Centre the same as an Accident and Emergency Department? icon plus

    No, they are not the same. Our Urgent Care Centres do not treat life-threatening illnesses. If you or someone you know is experiencing life-threatening symptoms, you should contact 999 immediately. Urgent Care Centres treat minor injuries and illnesses that require urgent medical attention, such as sprains, broken bones, minor head injuries, minor cuts and burns, infections of the ear or throat and urinary tract infections.

     
  • Do I need an appointment to visit an urgent care centre? icon plus

    Our Urgent Care Centres for adults do not require an appointment. People over the age of 18 can walk into one of our three Urgent Care Centres and 94% of our patients are seen within 15 minutes.

    Our Urgent Care Centre for children at The Portland Hospital does require an appointment, although same-day appointments are available.

    If you have any questions, contact our HCA UK urgent care centres on 020 3910 2412.

     
    *94.25% from April 2022 to March 2023
     
  • What if I need further treatment? icon plus

    Our urgent care doctors treat 96.2% of  patients in their first visit. For those patients who need more tests or additional care, we have a permanent rota of on-call consultants from multiple medical and surgical specialties who are available by referral.

    If you do need to be referred for further treatment, you can speak to your insurer to pre-authorise any costs. Alternatively, you can choose to self-pay.

Why urgent care centres are so important: Patient case studies

Having doctors with experience in urgent care means we’re able to pick up the unusual presentation of conditions and treat them quickly. In the two cases outlined below, there was potential for the patients to deteriorate quickly if left untreated. The implications of this may have been serious. Acting quickly within our Urgent Care Centres meant that both of these patients made a full recovery and were able to return to their normal lifestyles shortly after receiving treatment. 
  • Stomach discomfort that wouldn’t shift icon plus

    A 68-year-old male with type 2 diabetes and a history of acid reflux and heartburn attended one of our centres. He’d been seen by his GP the previous day complaining of stomach discomfort and had been prescribed antacid tablets.

    1. During his consultation with an urgent care doctor, his type 2 diabetes and medical history was investigated. The doctor observing noted significant underlying risk factors for coronary heart disease, including his diabetes and smoking. 
    2. An electrocardiogram (ECG) was carried out to view electrical activity of the heart.
    3. Blood tests were taken, including heart enzymes, to validate potential cardiac diagnosis.
    4. The patient was referred straight away to one of our on-call cardiologists.
    5. A coronary angiogram was carried out, confirming one entirely occluded (blocked) coronary artery.
    6. Stents were quickly placed within the artery to restore blood flow.
    7. The patient was able to return home the next day and resume usual activities.
  • Unresolved acute vomiting icon plus

    A 33-year-old male, otherwise in good health, had acute onset vomiting for five days. He had been in his local hospital and prescribed anti-sickness medication. He was sent home, but his symptoms quickly returned when he stopped taking the medication. He then came to an HCA UK Urgent Care Centre.

    1. One of our urgent care doctors carried out a physical assessment and blood tests.
    2. The urgent care doctor noted subtle signs of neurological impairment, which had previously not been picked up.
    3. The patient was referred to one of our on-call consultant physicians and admitted to a HCA UK hospital.
    4. An urgent CT scan of the brain was carried out.
    5. The patient was diagnosed with a rare brain abscess.
    6. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and able to return home with no further problems.

Partnerships

As part of our commitment to developing partnerships that bring real benefits to patients, we’re working with Bupa to make sure that when members of a Bupa policy are looking for urgent care they can access it easily and conveniently.

How to access our Urgent Care Centre

We are open for walk in patients at our adult Urgent Care Centres, however our paediatric Urgent Care Centre at The Portland Hospital requires booking an appointment. 

020 3910 2412

For any life threatening conditions patients should always call 999 or go the nearest NHS emergency department

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