Whether you’re coming to our hospitals and satellite sites as a patient, relative, carer or visitor, we want to ensure your experience is among the best in the country. 

Within this section you’ll find information about what to expect during your hospital visit, what facilities we have, and the help and support we offer.

Members of staff, patients and visitors are no longer required to wear a mask in public, clinical and non-clinical areas across the Royal Free London, except when specifically indicated. 

Please continue to take precautions based on your situation and anyone is welcome to wear a mask if they feel safer doing so. A clinical area refers to a department, a ward, a waiting area, or clinic.

Getting to our hospitals
Find a ward

Your hospital visit

Information about clinic appointments, day surgery procedures and planned inpatient stays.

About your hospital visit
Royal Free Hospital entrance

Disability support

Accessible facilities available for disabled patients.

Our support for disabled patients
Person in uniform with someone in a wheelchair
Get involved in our hospitals

Help with travel and health costs

Who is eligible?

If you receive income support, family credit or certain other benefits, you may be able to get help with:

  • NHS prescriptions
  • sight tests, glasses and contact lenses
  • travel to NHS treatment
  • NHS wigs and fabric support
  • NHS dental treatment
  • cost of travel to receive NHS treatment

Information about help with paying for these health costs can be found on the NHS Business Services Authority website.

If you’re eligible for support, please take proof of exemption to the cashiers’ office of the hospital where you’re receiving medical treatment:

  • Barnet Hospital (level 3) open 9am to 4pm. Tel: 020 8216 4295
  • Chase Farm Hospital (ground floor), open 9am to 5pm. Tel: 020 8375 1261
  • Royal Free Hospital (lower ground floor), open Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.50pm. Tel: 020 3758 2000 ext 34450
Check if you are eligible on the NHS services website

Who is eligible?

Dial-a-Ride is a Transport for London service for people with a permanent or long-term disability who are unable to use public transport. 

You are automatically eligible for membership if you’re:

  • a Taxicard member
  • receive the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance
  • receive the Standard or Enhanced Mobility Rate of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
  • registered blind or partially sighted
  • aged 85 or over
  • receive a Higher Rate Attendance Allowance
  • receive a War Pension Mobility Supplement 

If none of the above apply to you, you may still be able to join Dial-a-Ride, but you will have to undergo a paper-based mobility assessment to establish your eligibility for the service.  

Apply for Dial-a-Ride membership

Who is eligible?

The Taxicard scheme, managed by the London Councils Transport and Environment Committee, uses licensed London taxis to provide subsidised door-to-door transport for people with serious mobility impairment and difficulty in using public transport. 

You may be eligible for Taxicard if you:

  • receive the higher rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance 
  • are registered as blind
  • receive the War Pension Mobility Supplement

If none of these apply to you, you may still be eligible if your GP endorses your application. You may have to provide further information or have a mobility assessment.

What does it cost?

You generally pay a flat fare of £1.50 per trip, plus anything above the subsidised amount. 

In most boroughs, Taxicard trips are subsidised up to:

  • £10.30 for trips during the day (6am to 8pm, Monday to Friday)
  • £11.30 for trips during weekday evenings and weekend daytime (8-10pm, Monday to Friday and 6am to 10pm, Saturdays and Sundays)
  • £12.80 for trips at night (10pm to 6am, Monday to Sunday)

For example, if you make a journey on a weekday that costs £14 on the meter, £10.30 of it would be subsidised.

Apply for Taxicard membership

Accommodation

Man sitting at table in the Pears Building

Accommodation for patients and relatives is available at the Royal Free Charity Pears Building. 

These comfortable, hotel-style rooms are conveniently located on the Royal Free Hospital campus. 

Single, twin and double rooms are available, as well as suites with kitchens and seating areas. There are also several larger, accessible rooms. 

All rooms have ensuite bathrooms. Bed linen, towels and toiletries are provided. 

Each room has a fridge, television, tea and coffee making facilities, free wi-fi and air-conditioning. The suites have kitchen appliances and cooking utensils.

The accommodation is located on the top two floors of the Pears Building, with stunning views across Hampstead and north London.

Access to the accommodation floors is limited to guests and accommodation staff only. There’s 24-hour access to the building via the main entrance, where a security team is always on site.

For information on how to make a reservation or to enquire about availability, please email rf.accommodation@nhs.net or call 020 7830 2921.

More information