Please help with clinic or ER in London
 

I'm hoping someone on this board can help me. My boyfriend and I are leaving for London/Amsterdam tomorrow night and he injured his leg today. He has a fairly deep gash that required stitches to close it. He is ok to walk around..it is just a little stiff. He still wants to go to on our trip. The doctor is fine with him going but wants someone (in the medical field) to look at the wound in 48-72 hrs to make sure that it is healing properly and that it is not getting infected. Are there clinics in London where a visitor can visit for a fee to do something like this? Or is a hospital the only option? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

ttt

I know that at train stations such as Euston and Victoria there are signs advertising walk-in services of medical doctors on the station premises; kind of like a walk-in clinic i think but private, outside the bounds of the Britain's National Health scheme.
Of course you could go to the hospital as well and probably wait for hours. I'd be surprised that Heathrow Airport also doesn't have facilities to treat in-bound passengers - ask at airport information counter.

The one time I needed to see a doctor in London, I simply asked at my hotel and, ten minutes later I had an appointment scheduled at a doctor's office for about 2 hours later. I assumed as a cash paying customer I jumped the queue of NHS patients.

I agree with Ron. Ask the people at the hotel desk, they will take care of you. I hope he is OK.

There are surgeries (doctors' offices) all over London -- probably one w/i a few blocks of your hotel. just ask the concierege.

Thank you to all that replied. I will definitely ask the Concierge at my hotel. Our plans will need to be revised a little. We might have to resort to a bus tour of London and hopefully by the time we get to Amsterdam he'll be able to walk better.
One more question....does anyone know where I can rent a wheelchair in London? I know that I can ask the Conceirge but I was just trying to do some research before we leave.

Kat - Every town of any size has Shopmobility outlets which rent wheelchairs by the hour/day/week.

http://www.visitlondon.com/city_guid...pmobility.html

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Uhhh..now we're at the "renting a wheelchair" stage? Even though you said earlier that the phsyician was "OK" with his going has he been put on any sort of mobility/walking restrictions? How LONG are you going to be gone? Sutures are usually removed in 7-10 days and usually no more than 14. Will you be back by then?

Uhhh...TopMan...we're not at any "stage". I was looking into the wheelchair option to make it easier for him to get around for the first couple of days. I would think if his leg was stiff that he would have trouble navigating stairs and I thought if we had the wheelchair to use for a few hours each day that it would assist in giving his leg some rest. Do you have any advice on where I can rent one?

Steve - Thank you for the helpful link...

Not specific to London - but wheelcharis are not as easy to use as a passenger or pusher as one might think.

If his leg is actually "a little stiff" then a wheelchair is not the answer - cutting back a little on your mobility plans will be far easier on both of you.

I know you are not going to like my answer - but something here does not feel right to me. We go from "a little stiff" to a wheelchair for the first part. And it is fairly easy for even an untrained person to tell if something is healing right and not getting infected.

Kat, If you get to a point where walking is too much, hop on a double decker bus and ride from end to end. While you're not visiting any of the famous sites, you'll be amazed at what a different view of London you get; all for the price of a bus ticket. Also, in London there are plenty of opportunities to sit and rest a bit.

Where is MK2 when you need her/him!!!!!

Kat

You could try any ER Dept(Called A&E (accident and emergency)in the UK)of the large central London Hospitals. St Thomas is just across Westminster Bridge from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. You could also try the Middlesex just north of Oxford Street or St Barts in the City. There is also a "walk in centre" for minor injuries just off Soho Square where you can see specialy trained nurses (who can prescibe some medicines if necessary) they provide a dressing care service and would give you an assessment of whether your boyfriend needs further treatment. I'm not sure where you are from but treatment would be free for most EU citizens. Non EU citizens should be asked for insurance or payment but this is very hit or miss - it seems to depend on whether the staff can be bothered.

You can also ring NHS Direct for guidance once here on 08454647.

There are Medi Centre private clinics in some of the major train stations (Waterloo, Victoria, Paddington)http://www.medicentre.co.uk/

I also am wondering what the situation really is since it's changed from a little stiff to needing to be in a wheelchair for sightseeing, and stairs? Have you ever pushed someone around much in a wheelchair and traveled with them? I have, my mother, and this is not a trivial thing and especially doesn't make sense for him to avoid stairs. How do you intend to navigate his wheelchair up and down stairs? How big is he in comparison to you?

I'd go with the concierge physician referral, but I have walked into a clinic at St Mary's near Paddington and been treated promptly at low cost -- although not for that kind of thing.

Listen to the others here - a wheel chair is probably not your best choice. Instead of renting one, if your BF is having a bad day just take it easy, take cabs or buses (avoid the tube) and just don't over do it. A wheel chair is a LOT of bother unless he is actually disabled and cannot walk. Don't hire one just because he is a "little stiff".

Ok..we're off to the airport. Thank you again for all the helpful advice. I promise I won't get a wheelchair unless he absolutely cannot walk. :) David_London - I've copied down all the info you provided...thanks a bunch.

Good luck kat and good wishes to your boyfriend!

I know they jhave a medical clinic at both Waterloo Station and also at Victoria Station, I remember taking an elevator up to the one in Victoria station where I received medical help. I had to pay the bill (credit card as I recall) and was reembursed by my travel insurance shortly after returning home. Good luck. Halfpint