New to Manchester or Salford for university?

Use our secure online form for a new health problem, ongoing symptoms, a medication query or administrative help. You will be directed to our shared Salford Medical Centre submission page, but you can still be seen at The Quays.

Request help from the practice

A community pharmacist can also assess and treat many common problems, including sore throats, earache, infected insect bites and uncomplicated urinary infections in eligible patients.

Register early and contact us before your medication runs out. Tell us about any medicine prescribed by your previous GP, hospital, private specialist or a clinician abroad.

It helps to provide:

• A recent clinic letter or diagnosis report
• The medicine name, dose and how often you take it
• Details of your current specialist and monitoring plan
• Information about allergies or previous serious reactions

Some medicines—including ADHD medication and other controlled drugs—need additional records, monitoring or an NHS specialist agreement before a GP can prescribe them. A previous or private prescription does not always mean it can be continued immediately, so please contact us in good time.

Students living and studying together can be at increased risk of meningitis. Check that you have received:

• MenACWY: if you are under 25 and have not previously had it, ask us about catch-up vaccination
• MMR: 2 doses for protection against measles, mumps and rubella
• MenB: some young people starting university or residential further education may be eligible under the current NHS programme

Read NHS student-health guidance or check MenB vaccination eligibility and booking .

Do not wait for a rash if meningitis is suspected. Symptoms can include fever, severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, being very sleepy, seizures or a rash that does not fade under a glass. Get urgent medical help.

University life can bring anxiety, low mood, loneliness, sleep problems, academic pressure or difficulties adjusting. You do not need to wait until things feel unmanageable.

• Contact the practice for clinical support and advice.
• Use your university wellbeing, counselling or disability-support service.
• University of Salford wellbeing and counselling
• University of Manchester student support services
• Greater Manchester mental-health support

If you feel mentally unsafe or severely distressed, call 111 and select mental health option 2. If there is an immediate danger to life, call 999.

Universities can support students with physical or sensory disabilities, long-term health conditions, mental-health conditions, autism, ADHD and specific learning differences such as dyslexia. Contact the university disability team early—even if you are still waiting for an assessment or your needs have changed.

Study support and reasonable adjustments

Your university disability service can discuss adjustments to teaching, assessments and campus access. Depending on your needs, this might include examination arrangements, accessible materials, assistive technology, specialist study support or adjustments to placements.

• University of Salford Disability Inclusion Service
• University of Manchester Disability Advisory and Support Service

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)

DSA is non-repayable support for eligible higher-education students whose disability, long-term condition, mental-health condition or learning difference affects their studies. It is not means-tested and is based on your individual study-related needs.

It may help with specialist equipment or software, non-medical support, additional disability-related travel and other study support. It is not intended to pay ordinary tuition fees or general living costs. Eligibility rules can depend on your course, residency and funding arrangements.

Check eligibility and apply for DSA

Other financial help

• University hardship funds: non-repayable help may be available if unexpected financial difficulty affects essential living costs. Awards are discretionary.
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP): may be available if a long-term condition causes substantial difficulty with everyday activities or mobility. It is not awarded simply because someone has a diagnosis.
• Universal Credit: most full-time students cannot usually claim, but there are exceptions, including for some disabled students. Seek individual benefits advice before applying.

• University of Salford Support Fund
• University of Manchester Unexpected Financial Needs Fund
• Check PIP eligibility
• Universal Credit and students
• Check disability benefits and financial support

If an application requires medical evidence, first check exactly what the university or funding body needs. The practice can provide relevant factual clinical information held in your medical record, where appropriate.

Sexual-health care is confidential. Our practice team can provide contraceptive pills, injections, implants and coils. Use our online form to request an appointment.

The Northern Contraception, Sexual Health and HIV Service provides free contraception, STI testing and treatment across Salford and Manchester. Postal STI testing may be available if you do not have symptoms.

• Ask the practice about contraception
• Salford sexual-health services
• The Northern sexual-health service

If alcohol or drug use is affecting your health, studies, finances or relationships, confidential support is available without judgement. You can contact the practice or approach Achieve Salford directly.

Contact Achieve Salford

Being a university student does not automatically make all prescriptions, dental treatment or eye care free. Students aged 16 to 18 in full-time education are generally entitled to help; other students may qualify through the NHS Low Income Scheme or another exemption.

• Check whether you can get free prescriptions
• Apply to the NHS Low Income Scheme
• Find an NHS dentist
• Find an optician and check help with costs

You are welcome to register. Bring any useful medical letters, vaccination history and a list of regular medicines. English translations are helpful if you already have them, but do not delay asking for care if you do not.

GP and nurse consultations in primary care are free. Entitlement to some hospital treatment can depend on your individual residency or immigration circumstances.

Read NHS information for people moving to England

Contact your university support team as early as possible and check its rules for mitigating circumstances, extensions or absence. If medical evidence is requested, it can usually only describe information that has been clinically documented, so contact us when the problem occurs rather than much later.