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Emergency Department and Urgent Treatment Centre

Emergency Department and Urgent Treatment Centre

Main Address

  • Whittington Hospital
    Magdala Avenue
    London
  • N19 5NF

In a life threatening emergency, please do not hesitate to call 999.

Whittington Health’s Emergency Department (ED) is available 24/7 every single day of the year if you or someone you care for is seriously unwell or injured.

24 hours per day, 365 days per year (no change over Christmas and New Year)

Not sure whether you need our ED?

NHS 111 
If you think you need medical help right now, but are unsure where to get treatment, 111 can tell you what to do next. Dial 111 or visit their website. Calls to NHS 111 are free from landlines and mobile phones.

Visit your local pharmacy
Consider visiting your local pharmacy. Pharmacists are trained healthcare professions who can advise you on minor illnesses, headaches, stomach upsets and bites and stings.
 
Visit your GP during business hours, or GP Hub out of hours
Your GP will help you with ongoing or less urgent concerns.
Out of hours GP appointments are available at GP Hubs. Find out about your closest GP Hub on the NCL website.

Arriving at our Emergency Department

When you arrive at our ED, our trained clinical staff will assess you and direct you to the most appropriate service – either our Emergency service, or our Urgent Treatment Centre service.

You will be seen by staff in our Emergency service for life-threatening conditions, and this can include things like immediate care for critical injuries, stroke, chest pain, and breathing problems. This service is led by Emergency Medicine Consultants and team.

You will be seen by staff in our Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) service for illnesses and injuries that are urgent but not life-threatening, for example, minor cuts, minor illnesses, sprains, fevers, infections, mild asthma, rashes, minor burns, simple fractures. This service is led by an Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) and GP.
 
Sometimes, when you call NHS111 in advance, operators may give you an estimated arrival time to be seen by our UTC service; however, note that this is not an appointment and just an estimate.

General information

Medical advice will not be given over the phone by our emergency department.
Emergency department reception: 020 7288 5216 / 5704
 
To find out about someone receiving treatment, please ring the Nurses' Station: 0207 288 5100
 
How to find the Emergency Department
  • Location: Whittington Hospital, Magdala Avenue, London N19 5NF. The Emergency Department entrance is located on Highgate Hill.
  • Parking: Limited pay-and-display available on Highgate Hill. No on-site parking during working hours.

Getting home from ED
We arrange ambulances only for medical need. Minicab phones are available at the hospital entrance, but these services are not run by the hospital.

Abuse of Staff
The Trust ensures that all the staff working in the emergency department are able to carry out their roles safe in the knowledge that the Trust operates a ‘zero tolerance’ to any form of verbal or physical abuse.
 
Any member of the public, patient or relative will be prosecuted if they act in a manner likely to cause distress or harm to staff.
Last updated19 Jun 2025