The Royal Free Hospital
NHS hospital · Camden
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The Royal Free Hospital is an NHS hospital in Camden, London, run by Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. See whether it has an A&E, its phone number, visiting and how to get there.
At a glance
- A&E
- A&E open 24 hours
- Planned care wait
- Half waited less than 13 weeks (whole trust)
- CQC rating
- Requires improvement (published 6 January 2021)
- Telephone
- 020 7794 0500
Information checked 16 October 2026.
Urgent help
Call 999 or go to A&E if someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk. For urgent help that is not an emergency, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
Waiting times at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
These figures are for the whole trust, which runs 7 hospitals listed on this site, not just The Royal Free Hospital. Waits at this hospital may be shorter or longer.
Other hospitals in this trust:
- Barnet General Hospital
- Chase Farm Hospital
- North Middlesex University Hospital
- Finchley Memorial Hospital
- Hadley Wood Hospital
- St Michaels Hospital
A&E: time spent in A&E
70.2% of people who went to the trust’s major A&E departments in September 2026 were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours.
27,627 attendances. England average for major A&E departments: 60.6%. In an emergency, go to the nearest A&E or call 999.
Compare A&E waiting times at other hospitals.
Waiting for planned treatment
These are people who were still waiting at the end of August 2026 for non-urgent treatment led by a consultant, counted from the referral. The table shows the trust’s 5 specialties with the most people waiting. “Half waited less than” is the median wait. The NHS maximum waiting time for non-urgent, consultant-led treatment is 18 weeks.
| Specialty | People waiting | Half waited less than | 92 in 100 waited less than | Waiting under 18 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urology | 9,650 | 15 weeks | 41 weeks | 57.9% |
| Trauma and orthopaedics | 9,607 | 16 weeks | 46 weeks | 54.4% |
| Gastroenterology | 9,390 | 11 weeks | 33 weeks | 70.6% |
| Ear, nose and throat | 9,112 | 17 weeks | 40 weeks | 54.3% |
| Dermatology | 9,038 | 8.2 weeks | 26 weeks | 81.2% |
| All specialties | 137,873 | 13 weeks | 38 weeks | 62.7% |
Show all 17 specialties at this trust
| Specialty | People waiting | Half waited less than | 92 in 100 waited less than | Waiting under 18 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiology | 8,245 | 15 weeks | 34 weeks | 58.5% |
| Gynaecology | 7,808 | 13 weeks | 37 weeks | 63.4% |
| Ophthalmology | 7,359 | 12 weeks | 34 weeks | 66% |
| Neurology | 6,440 | 13 weeks | 33 weeks | 64.1% |
| Children's services (paediatrics) | 5,799 | 15 weeks | 38 weeks | 58.7% |
| Respiratory medicine | 5,654 | 11 weeks | 34 weeks | 71.4% |
| Oral surgery | 5,053 | 16 weeks | 38 weeks | 56.9% |
| General surgery | 4,391 | 21 weeks | 48 weeks | 44.5% |
| Rheumatology | 3,450 | 16 weeks | 36 weeks | 57% |
| Plastic surgery | 3,268 | 14 weeks | 38 weeks | 62.1% |
| General internal medicine | 219 | 5.4 weeks | 19 weeks | 89% |
| Elderly medicine | 202 | 3.6 weeks | 12 weeks | 95% |
If your GP refers you, in most cases you have the legal right to choose which hospital you go to for your first appointment. Compare waiting times at hospitals near you.
Source: NHS England, Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times (August 2026, published 8 October 2026) and A&E Attendances and Emergency Admissions (September 2026). Official statistics for the trust as a whole. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence.
Procedures at this hospital
Published figures for The Royal Free Hospital from national audits and NHS statistics, from the UK Hospitals Guide. Each guide page explains what the figures mean and compares London hospitals. This is not a ranking.
Figures for this hospital
- Hip replacement
203Joint replacements, all joints, 2025 (NJR)
Middle hospital in London: 299Fewer than 400. NJR outlier analysis (90-day mortality and revision rates): Not identified as an outlier - Knee replacement
203Joint replacements, all joints, 2025 (NJR)
Middle hospital in London: 299Fewer than 400. NJR outlier analysis (revision rates): Not identified as an outlier - Hip fracture surgery
171People treated for a hip fracture, 2025 (NHFD)
Middle hospital in London: 232Fewer than 300. Deaths within 30 days (case-mix adjusted): 5% - Emergency bowel surgery (emergency laparotomy)
102Emergency laparotomies, NELA year 11
Middle hospital in London: 90100 to 149. Deaths within 30 days (risk-adjusted): Within the 95% funnel limits - Stroke care
60Stroke patients, January to March 2026 (SSNAP)
Middle hospital in London: 89Stroke team. Fewer than 75. SSNAP level (A is highest, E lowest): Level D
Figures for the whole trust
These are published for the trust as a whole. The operation may be done at another of its hospitals.
- Bowel cancer surgery Major bowel cancer operations, 2024 (NBOCA): 200 or more (249). Deaths within 90 days of surgery (adjusted): 2.2%
- Breast cancer surgery Women having breast cancer surgery, 2021 to 2023 (NAoPri): 1,500 or more (1,572). Further operation after breast-conserving surgery (adjusted): 12.2%
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair Planned (elective) AAA repairs in 2024 (NVR): 40 to 49 (46). Deaths in hospital after planned repair (adjusted): 1.1%
- Carotid endarterectomy Carotid endarterectomies in 2024 (NVR): fewer than 30 (25). Stroke or death within 30 days (adjusted): 2.8%
- Leg artery bypass and angioplasty (peripheral arterial disease) Leg artery bypass operations in 2024 (NVR): 50 to 99 (92). Deaths in hospital after bypass (adjusted): 3.2%
- Major leg amputation Major leg amputations in 2024 (NVR): 50 to 99 (54). Deaths in hospital within 30 days (adjusted): 15.9%
- Carpal tunnel release treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 2,500 or more
- Lumbar decompression (lower back surgery) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 400 to 999
- Coronary artery bypass graft (heart bypass) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 3,000 or more
- Coronary angioplasty and stents treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 3,000 or more
- Varicose vein treatment treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 3,000 or more
- Inguinal hernia repair treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 3,000 or more
- Gallbladder removal treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 2,000 or more
- Haemorrhoid (piles) surgery
- Weight loss surgery
- Cataract surgery treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 7,500 or more
- Tonsil removal (tonsillectomy) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,500 to 2,999
- Grommets for glue ear treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 750 or more
- Hysterectomy treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 3,000 or more
- Giving birth and caesarean section treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 5,000 or more
- Prostate surgery for an enlarged prostate (TURP)
- Kidney stone treatment
Sources: national clinical audits (NJR, NHFD, NELA, SSNAP, NATCAN, NVR) and NHS England statistics, under the Open Government Licence or CC BY 4.0. Data updated 22 October 2026.
Opening times
Opening days and times
Hospital wards are staffed 24 hours a day. The A&E department is open 24 hours a day, every day.
Outpatient clinics, tests and scans run at set times. Your appointment letter or text message tells you when and where to go.
Visiting times are set by each ward. Check with the ward before you visit.
A&E status: NHS England emergency care data (Emergency Care Data Set, August 2026).
Appointments and access
First outpatient appointments
To see a specialist at an NHS hospital, you usually need a referral, for example from your GP, dentist or optometrist.
In most cases you have the right to choose which hospital you are referred to for your first outpatient appointment.
Your referral is usually booked through the NHS e-Referral Service. You can then manage it in the NHS App or on the NHS website.
Some services let you refer yourself, such as maternity care.
If you already have an appointment, use the phone number on your appointment letter.
Contact the hospital to book or to ask about appointments.
Contact
Main telephone
Telephone: 020 7794 0500
Contact the hospital to book or to ask about appointments.
Location and travel
Address and map
The Royal Free Hospital
Pond Street
Pond Street
London
NW3 2QG
Find care near here
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Station locations: Powered by TfL Open Data.
Public transport and parking
Getting here by public transport
Nearest stations:
- Hampstead Heath about 4 minutes' walkLondon Overground (Mildmay)Step-free from street to platform.
- Belsize Park about 6 minutes' walkUnderground (Northern)No step-free access from street to platform.
Nearest bus stop: Royal Free Hospital (Stop D, towards Camden Town or Swiss Cottage), about 2 minutes' walk. Routes 1, 46 and C11.
Other bus routes from stops within about 7 minutes' walk: 24, 268 and N5.
Plan your journey with TfL (opens the Transport for London website)
We do not have details of parking or Blue Badge spaces here. If you need them, contact the hospital before you go.
Step-free information is from TfL (data dated 20 October 2026) and covers the route from the street to the platform, not always onto the train. Lifts can be out of service: check TfL lift and station closures before you travel. Walking times are estimates from the straight-line distance to the hospital's postcode; stations and bus routes as listed by TfL on 22 October 2026. Powered by TfL Open Data. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database rights 2016 and Geomni UK Map data © and database rights [2019].
Free car parking
NHS hospitals in England must offer free car parking to Blue Badge holders who are patients or visitors, outpatients who attend at least 3 times in a month for at least 3 months, the parent or guardian of a child under 18 staying in overnight (7.30pm to 8am, up to 2 vehicles) and staff working night shifts. Ask the hospital how to claim it, as you may need to register your vehicle.
Source: NHS car parking guidance, Department of Health and Social Care (updated 29 March 2022), checked 15 November 2026.
Facilities
We do not have details of step-free access, parking or other facilities here yet. If you need them, contact the hospital before you go.
Visiting
Visiting times and rules are set by each ward. Check with the hospital before you visit.
Book, change or complain
- Book or manage your first outpatient appointment
- Patient advice (PALS) and other contact details
- This hospital on the NHS website
- Manage your referral (NHS e-Referral Service)
- What the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) does
- Read inspection reports (CQC)
- Get an email when CQC inspects this hospital
- Tell CQC about your care
- Find your local Healthwatch
About this hospital
| Provider | Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust |
|---|---|
| Type | NHS hospital |
| NHS or private | NHS |
| Local authority | Camden |
More details
| NHS organisation code | RAL01 |
|---|---|
| CQC location ID | RAL01 |
Official website: The Royal Free Hospital website
Hospital services
CQC lists these regulated service types at this location:
- Hospice
- Hospital
- Hospitals - Mental health/capacity
- Prison healthcare
- Rehabilitation (illness/injury)
Service types are regulatory categories, not a full list of departments. Being registered for a service does not always mean it is running now. Check with the hospital.
Regulation and quality
This location is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The latest published ratings are below.
| Area | Rating | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | Requires improvement | 6 January 2021 |
| Caring | Good | 6 January 2021 |
| Effective | Good | 6 January 2021 |
| Responsive | Requires improvement | 6 January 2021 |
| Safe | Requires improvement | 6 January 2021 |
| Well-led | Requires improvement | 6 January 2021 |
Read the CQC report for The Royal Free Hospital
Frequently asked questions
What is the telephone number for The Royal Free Hospital?
Telephone: 020 7794 0500.
What is the CQC rating of The Royal Free Hospital?
The latest overall CQC rating is Requires improvement, published 6 January 2021.
Nearby hospitals
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University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
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About 2.4 miles away
Distances are straight-line estimates from postcode locations.
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Printed from https://ukhospitals.uk/hospital/the-royal-free-hospital/ on 15 November 2026.