My husband is in London this week for work, and he thinks he has pinkeye. Is there a quick, easy way to get a diagnosis and prescription (without needing a full-blown doctor's visit)?

In the US, we have Minute Clinics, here we have the MedCare thing at the Apotheke...so I'm sure there's something similar in the UK, I just don't know how to go about finding it.

There are NHS drop in centres which will help in this situation.

I think your husband should see a doctor for a proper consultation!

Moorfields is the best eye hospital in London, near Old Street tube station,
http://www.moorfields-private.co.uk/home

You can make an appointment online, but they don't list pinkeye as a complaint,
https://www.moorfields-private.co.uk/MakeAppointment

Pinkeye is also known as conjunctivitis. As a Brit, that's the term I'd use.

And the NHS drop in clinics (or walk-in centres) are staffed by nurses and doctors who will do a 'proper consultation'.

You can find one using the search function here.

Thanks, I didn't know about pink eye.

So your husband needs some eye drops? But effective drops will need to be prescribed by a doctor, which will mean a short consultation.

As a foreigner he is not entitled to free National Health Service treatment. The link I gave to Moorfields is for private patients.

never stopped anyone getting free treatment before AKA the health tourists

It would have been better to write conjunctivitis - I thought 'pinkeye' was a euphemism for an STD, requiring an umbrella.

But if he is a Swiss resident with his Swiss health insurance card he would be entitled to be treated as it could be classes as an emergency visit while travelling. Whether the NHS chooses to go through the procedure for billing the Swiss insurance is for them to decide.

It may be worth asking in the pharmacy. They should be able to advise him of the best place to go.


I'm not sure a visit to Moorfields is appropriate for a simple case of conjunctivitis.

It has its own special page on the NHS: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Conjunc...Treatment.aspx

You can buy eyedrops or eye ointment to treat conjunctivitis at any UK pharmacy without a prescription. You'll need to consult a pharmacist, but that's it. They'll cost you about a fiver.

http://www.boots.com/en/Opticians/Ey...onjunctivitis/

Conjunctivitis is highly infectious. Lots of hand washing, and make sure clothing that's been pulled over the head as well as bedding, pillow cases, and washcloths are all washed at high temperatures.

I think Moorfield's specialist hospital is a little overkill for a simple case of conjunctivitis. A little like heading to the Mayo Clinic for a cold.

What's the quote, two countries divided by a common language...

But yes, as, hopefully, a fully paid up resident of Switzerland there shouldn't be a problem getting treatment at an NHS walk-in centre.

In my defence, I didn't know what Pinkeye was. I would be careful with self diagnosis, but then that is an individual thing.

NHS website, QUOTE:
The recommended treatment for conjunctivitis will depend on whether it is caused by infection, an allergic reaction or an irritant such as a stray eyelash.
Each treatment option is discussed in more detail below....


Yes with an EHIC card he could visit an NHS clinic and wait inline for hours. The title includes the word "QUICK"

Or he could make an appointment online at Moorfields as a private patient, walk in without waiting, and claim from his insurance wherever it is.

Thanks, everyone! I appreciate all the advice. He's going to run to a pharmacy when he gets a chance to talk the the pharmacist and see what they think--whether OTC eye-drops are ok, or if he should see a doc.

PS: Sorry about calling it 'pinkeye' instead of 'conjunctivitis'. I've passed that info along to him, too, so they will know what the heck he's talking about! (c:

a pharmacist will have sage advice and they're in many convenient locations (like Boots').