New to the United Kingdom

Medical management, coordination of long term care and access to hospital specialists

A GP can offer medical advice, provide a diagnosis and prescribe medicines. They might be your first point of contact for many physical and mental health concerns. The GP practice is also responsible for coordinating and managing your long term healthcare and they can refer you if you need more specialised hospital services. It is best to register with a GP practice to meet your ongoing health needs. www.nhs.uk/register

You want to do what is best for your child. You know about the importance of car seats, stair gates and other ways to keep them safe. But, did you know that one of the best ways to protect them is to make sure they have all of their vaccinations on time, when they are recommended to ensure the mostly timely protection.

Immunisations can save your child’s life

Vaccinations are very safe and effective

Immunisations protect others you care about

Visit our vaccination page for more information

Keeping up to date with vaccinations 

Your GP practice nurse can help you get your child up to date with their vaccinations regardless of their age.

Find a dentist (Looks after your teeth)

If your tooth is painful you should call 111 for Urgent Dental Care Services

Find an optician (Looks after your eyes)

The Healthy Child Programme is designed to offer every family support in making healthy choices. It includes immunisations, health information, child developmental reviews, and access to a range of community services and resources.

The Health Visiting team supports you and your family from the birth of your baby up until your child goes to school. School nurses care for children and young people, aged five to nineteen, and their families, to ensure their health needs are supported within their school and community.

It can be scary when your child is unwell and you are unsure of where to get help. 

The pages below provide questions and answers and helpful advice.

1. Child under 3 months

2. Child over 3 months up to 18

3. Should my child go to school or nursery 

Medical emergency or life-threatening situation

Call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. The telephone operator will advise you on what to do or where to go next. An ambulance may be sent to provide treatment or transport the patient to hospital.

Hospital Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments are open 24 hours every day of the year. You can access these services directly and without an appointment.

Walk in centres

If you need urgent medical care for minor injuries such as cuts, sprains and small fractures, or urgent medical advice, you can directly go to a walk in or urgent care centre without an appointment. These centres are usually open during day time hours.

There is help available if you, your child or a family member is struggling with how they are feeling - click here for more information.

If you have seriously harmed yourself or are about to do so, call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E.

If you feel you or someone else is in immediate danger, you should call 999.

If you are thinking about suicide and are an adult. You can talk to someone at the Samaritans by calling 116 123.

If you need help now

Contact our Single Point of Access Service 

Call 0800 328 4444

You can call this number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for help and advice in a mental health crisis from a team of trained mental health advisors and clinicians.

Hounslow Mind

Hounslow Mind provides a range of services and support to people experiencing, or vulnerable to ill mental health. Hounslow Mind is an independent local provider of high quality mental health services in the Hounslow Borough. To make a self-referral or to refer on behalf of someone else, please contact the following numbers. The service will take your details and offer you an assessment soon after.

Tel: 020 8571 7454

Website: Home - Hammersmith, Fulham, Ealing and Hounslow Mind

Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

Provide mental health assessments, therapy and intervention for children and young people up to the age of 18 years and their families or identified carers.

Call 0800 328 4444 and choose Option 2 for CAMHS.

The helpline is open:

Monday to Friday from 8am to 11pm                    

Weekends and Bank holidays from midday to 8pm

Outside these hours, crisis calls will be passed to an out of hours CAMHS professional. If they're not available to talk straight away, you can arrange a call back.

Tel: 020 8483 2050 - Between 9am to 5pm you can contact the Hounslow CAMHS team or your care coordinator (if you are already seeing someone in CAMHS)

Visit the West London NHS Trust Children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) webpage. 

Chat Health

ChatHealth is a safe, secure and confidential text messaging service that is designed for young people from the ages of eleven to nineteen to easily and anonymously get in touch with one of our school nurses, for confidential advice and support regarding their health. The service is manned by Specialist Community Public Health Nurses who respond to messages within 24 working hours.

Tel: 07507 333176

Web: Visit the ChatHealth webpage

Hounslow School Nursing

Hounslow School Nursing is a universal service for children aged five to nineteen years old who attend a school in Hounslow, are home schooled in Hounslow, or are not in education but living in Hounslow.

Tel: 020 3691 1012 - Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm (excludes bank holidays)

Visit the School Nursing Hounslow webpage for more information on school nursing, referral forms, ChatHealth and the Lancaster model. 

 Other support services:

• Samaritans: Crisis support, including a 24/7 helpline and an email service.
• Hounslow Safe Space (Mind): A local hub for anyone who feels they are nearing crisis point, including carers.​
• Hounslow Talking Therapies -West London NHS Trust: Free help with common problems like stress, anxiety and depression.
• Hounslow Wellbeing Network - West London NHS Trust: A social network that connects people, organisations and services to help reduce stigma and mental illness.
• West London NHS Trust Wellbeing & Recovery College: Delivers education and tools to support wellbeing and self management of mental health difficulties.
• Healthy Hounslow: Helps residents create healthier and happier futures.
• Hounslow bereavement and end of life support service: Support for coping with the loss of a loved person, offered by The Mulberry Centre.
• Hounslow Reach - 'Floating support': Assists Hounslow residents, aged 18 and over, who may have mental or physical health needs, or a learning disability.

Pharmacists across Hounslow are a great alternative if you want immediate treatment and advice for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains with no GP appointment or prescription needed.  

The pharmacist will let you know if you need to visit a doctor or direct you to other healthcare professionals to make sure you get the help you need.

Highly trained pharmacists can assess and treat several common health conditions; to find the nearest pharmacy, go to:

 Find your nearest Pharmacy

There is a wealth of local support and help available. You are not alone.

Visit the parent support tool, where you can find local help and more information about local services.

Ukrainian Support Helpline: 

Barnardo's UK - Help for anyone fleeing the war in Ukraine

Barnardos Asylum seekers helpline:

Boloh - the Black and Asian family Helpline

These health services are free for everyone:

GP advice and treatment

• Services that are provided as part of the NHS 111 telephone advice line
• Accident and Emergency services provided at an A&E department, walk-in centre, minor injuries unit or urgent care centre
• Diagnosis and treatment of some infectious and sexually transmitted diseases
• NHS services provided for COVID-19 investigation, diagnosis, treatment and vaccination
• Family planning services (contraception)
• Treatment for a physical or mental condition caused by torture, female genital mutilation, domestic violence or sexual violence

Specialist health services are also free for:

• Refugees
• Asylum seekers
• Victims or suspected victims of Modern Slavery
• Dependants

People whose application for asylum has been rejected may still have access to free NHS services. Check if you are entitled to free health care.

Prescription medicines, dental and eye care are normally not free in England but asylum seekers who are financially supported by the Home Office will be given an HC2 certificate to get full help with these health costs. Anyone can apply for this support, see further advice on how to apply

Sexual health, family planning and contraception:

Find your nearest sexual health clinic and for more information on sexual health and contraception

You can refer yourself for NHS Pregnancy care here. 

Support to help quit smoking