Luther Street Medical Centre
What we do
Luther Street Medical Centre is an award-winning GP surgery providing healthcare to people experiencing homelessness in Oxford City.
We opened in 1985, initially operating from a Portakabin. Charitable donations allowed us to move into the current purpose-built building in 1998 which was further extended in 2005.
The service was absorbed fully into the NHS in 2001. Since 2013, we have been part of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and a national centre of excellence in providing healthcare to patients experiencing homelessness.
Video: history of the service
Our services
Useful information
Patients can register if they are:
- Aged 18 or Over
- No Fixed Abode
- Vulnerably Housed
If you do not meet the above criteria but believe that you should be able to register with us, please call the practice and we can discuss this with you – 01865 901 571.
Please come to the surgery between 9am and midday and ring the front buzzer and say you have come to register.
You will need to complete a simple registration form and will be offered a health assessment with a GP and nurse. If you need assistance filling in the forms, we can help. Just speak to a member of the reception team when you arrive.
We are open:
- Monday to Friday
- 09:00am – 5:00pm
The easiest way to speak to a clinician is to call the surgery on 01865 901571 from 9.00am and you will be given a same day telephone appointment to discuss your problems. If you then need to see a clinician face-to-face you will then be given an appointment for this.
We are flexible about how we work with patients and do have some morning and afternoon slots for walk-up patients where patients may struggle to access the service by telephone.
Routine appointments
Our usual hours for routine appointments are:
- Morning: 9.00am – 1.00pm
- Afternoon: 2.00pm – 5.00pm
The practice is closed for meetings between 1.00pm and 2.00 pm and on Thursday afternoons, except for medical emergencies.
Calling hours
Our telephone lines are open from 8.00am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday.
When the surgery is closed, the out of hours service can be contacted on 111 or if it is an emergency, please call 999.
How to find us
We are the small building next to O’Hanlon House on Luther Street, which is at the bottom of Cromwell Street, off Speedwell Street.
- Satnav postcode: OX1 1UL
Travel
Please note there is only very limited parking near the surgery and this parking is meter controlled and expensive. We strongly suggest visitors come by public transport. Many city busses and park and ride services stop on Speedwell Street, less than 100m from the surgery. We are also just a ten-minute walk from the train station.
- Phone: 01865 901 571
Postal address
P.O.Box 7
St Aldates
Oxford
OX1 1TD
Enquiries
Please contact the reception team who will be able to direct your enquiry.
- Email: lsmcreception@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
- Phone: 01865 901 571
We have over 30 years’ experience in delivering medical education sessions and programmes to undergraduate and postgraduate healthcare workers and other public and third sector agencies.
These include:
- The award winning and nationally accredited Personality Disorder Positive Outcomes Programme www.pdpop.uk
- Motivational interviewing skills workshops
- Educational sessions on managing complexity in primary care, addiction and homelessness
To speak to us about education, please email Dr Rob Schafer, educational lead GP, robin.schafer@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Please note we are not externally funded for our education programmes and sessions are chargeable. We can provide a quote based on your exact needs.
Medical student placements
We only have capacity to offer placements to University of Oxford medical students on their 5th year GP rotations. Sadly, we do not have capacity to take students from other medical schools or elective placements.
Patient feedback
We are continually looking to improve and enhance our service and value your feedback. You can speak to us regarding this, or you may want to use one of the following routes:
Patient Participation Group
Be a participant of the group and provide direct input into how services are delivered.
Please e-mail lsmcreception@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk or phone us 01865 901571 to enquire about the next PPG or provide feedback.
I Want Great Care
To give us feedback on our service, please visit oxfordhealth.iwgc.net and enter the code 3847. If you are unable to complete the online form, please ask for a paper copy when you next visit us.
Please complete the IWGC questionnaire here New – Review – iWantGreatCare.
Healthwatch Oxfordshire
Feedback can also be provided through Healthwatch Oxfordshire, an independent health and social care watchdog: Healthwatch Oxfordshire
To make a complaint
We are sorry that you feel that you wish to make a complaint. Please raise this with our Practice Manager who will do what they can to resolve any problems that you are experiencing.
- Email: lsmcreception@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
- Phone: 01865 90 1571
If after speaking to the Practice Manager you feel that you would still like to make a complaint, or you would prefer not to discuss the matter with them, please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).
Awards
Luther Street Medical Centre is proud to have won the following awards:
- Oxford Health Fusion Award 2013 for Mental Health Practitioner Service
- Chief Executive’s Award for innovation 2013 for the PATHS scheme
- Prime Ministers Big Society Award 2013 for the PATHS scheme
- The Corkill Award – Highly Commended N.A.P.P. (National Association of Patient Participation Groups) PPG of the Year 2014
- GP Practice of the Year in Oxfordshire Health & Social Care Awards, 2021.
- Runner Up for the Oxford health – Clinical Teamwork Award 2023.
Useful resources
- Luther Street map for visitors (docx)
- Social prescribing poster (docx)
- Food Support in Oxford Leaflet (pdf)
- Oxford Homeless Guide April 2023 (pdf)
Non-urgent advice: Need help?
If you need assistance in accessing this website or require translation, please see our Accessibility page.
Further information/assistance can be found here: Translated health information for patients – Doctors of the World
Page last reviewed: 21 November, 2023