Urgent Care and A&E Near Eltham: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, NHS 111 and When to Call 999
Where to go for an emergency from Eltham, what the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich lists, and how NHS 111 and Pharmacy First fit in.
In an emergency, call 999. The nearest A&E listed by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust is the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Emergency Department at Stadium Road, Woolwich, SE18 4QH, which also has an Urgent Care Centre. Eltham Community Hospital should not be used for an emergency. If you are unsure where to go, use NHS 111.
In an emergency, call 999. This guide covers where Eltham residents go for urgent and emergency care, using the NHS and the local hospital trust's own pages. It is not medical advice.
When should I call 999?
The NHS's 999 page says 999 is for life-threatening emergencies such as serious road traffic accidents, strokes and heart attacks. The call handler asks for your location, what happened and a contact number, and calling 999 does not automatically mean an ambulance will be sent: you may be told to make your own way to A&E or be directed elsewhere. If you are not sure whether you need 999, the NHS says to get help from NHS 111.
Where is the nearest A&E?
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust's emergency services page lists the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Emergency Department at Stadium Road, Woolwich, SE18 4QH, in Block A on the ground floor, telephone 020 8836 4361. The trust says the department handles serious, life-threatening injuries and illnesses that need urgent medical attention, naming examples such as loss of consciousness, severe bleeding, choking, chest pain, breathing difficulties, serious burns, strokes and seizures. The NHS's when to go to A&E page says A&E is open 24 hours a day, that you should not drive yourself, that you should bring your current medicines, and that everyone is triaged by a doctor or nurse so the most seriously unwell are seen first. It also warns that waits can be long.
A&E waiting times change constantly.
Is there an urgent treatment centre?
The trust's page says the Queen Elizabeth Hospital also has an Urgent Care Centre in Block A on the ground floor, telephone 020 8836 6846, for conditions that need prompt but non-emergency care. For its opening hours, ring before you travel or ask NHS 111.
What about Eltham Community Hospital?
Eltham Community Hospital is at 30 Passey Place, SE9 5DQ, and NHS.uk lists Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust as the operator. NHS.uk's departments and services page does not list the services itself and refers you to the trust's website. The NHS page does not say it has an A&E or a walk-in urgent care service, so do not go there for an emergency. For emergencies, use A&E or 999.
How does NHS 111 work?
NHS 111 is available by phone on 111, online at 111.nhs.uk or through the NHS App, and helps direct you to the right service, whether that is A&E, a GP, a pharmacy or home care advice. Use 111 if you are unsure where to go, when your GP is closed, or for children under 5 by phone. You can also book urgent dental appointments through it; see our NHS dentists guide.
What can a pharmacist treat?
A pharmacist can treat many minor conditions without an appointment. See our pharmacy guide.
Getting there
Bus 161 runs between Chislehurst and North Greenwich via Mottingham, Eltham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, according to TfL's route page. See our Eltham buses guide. In an emergency do not rely on public transport.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is the nearest A&E to Eltham?
- The trust lists the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Emergency Department at Stadium Road, Woolwich, SE18 4QH, in Block A on the ground floor, telephone 020 8836 4361.
- Is there an urgent care centre near Eltham?
- The trust says the Queen Elizabeth Hospital also has an Urgent Care Centre in Block A on the ground floor, telephone 020 8836 6846. Opening hours could not be confirmed, so ring before you travel or ask NHS 111.
- Does Eltham Community Hospital have an A&E?
- From what could be read, it cannot be said to have an A&E or walk-in urgent care service, so do not go there for an emergency. For emergencies, use A&E or 999.
- When should I call 999?
- The NHS says 999 is for life-threatening emergencies such as serious road traffic accidents, strokes and heart attacks. Calling 999 does not automatically mean an ambulance will be sent.
- How does NHS 111 work?
- NHS 111 is available by phone on 111, online at 111.nhs.uk or through the NHS App. It helps direct you to the right service, and you can use it when your GP is closed or for children under 5 by phone.
- Which bus goes to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital from Eltham?
- According to TfL's route page, bus 161 runs between Chislehurst and North Greenwich via Mottingham, Eltham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital. In an emergency, do not rely on public transport.
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