Burrell Street Clinic

Overall Rating: /5

Address

4-5 Burrell Street

London

SE1 0UN

Phone

020 7188 6666

Opening hours

Monday 8.00am – 6.00pm

Tuesday 8.00am – 6.00pm

Wednesday 12.30pm – 6.00pm

Thursday 8.00am – 6.00pm

Friday 8.00am – 6.00pm

Saturday 8.00am – 3.00pm

Sunday 9.00am – 4.00pm

Booking and accessibility

Services offered

			Details
Coil fitting, replacement, check ups and removal			Need to book appointment on their website for fitting, replacement and checkups. Appointments are released 48 hours in advance on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays at 11am-12pm
Implant fitting and removal			Same as above
Emergency contraception			Includes emergency copper IUD
STI testing			Only if showing symptoms, otherwise use at-home kit
STI Treatment
Routine contraception (starting, switching, repeat prescription)
Contraception advice service
Contraception aftercare/follow up service
Cervical screening
Sexual health counselling

Transport Links 

Transport	Details
Tube	District Line (Blackfriars) Jubilee Line (Southwark) Northern Line (London Bridge)
Train	Blackfriars Station
Bus	139, 285, 344, 381, 40, 63
Car parking	Limited availability of metered parking spaces and disabled parking spaces.

The vibes:

The clinic was large, bright and airy and a row of three stern, yet friendly looking women sat behind the reception desk, partitioned from the public by a plastic panel which reached the ceiling. One of the women, who wasn’t busy talking to a patient, raised her eyebrows at me expectantly and I approached her section with a smile plastered to my face in an attempt to improve the mood.

“Um, I’d like a coil check please?” I enquired. “Fill this out.” She said, sliding a questionnaire through the small gap in the partition.

I dutifully took the questionnaire away to a standing desk nearby and reported that I didn’t have symptoms of Monkeypox, as well as a few personal details. I scurried back to the counter, and was instructed to go and sit down in the waiting room round the corner, and was handed a mask to wear whilst I waited.

The waiting area was a clammy room, full of masked-up people who looked less than amused, and was completely silent, save for the odd grunt or cough. Occasionally, a cheerful nurse or doctor would call a name, and a relieved peer would stand and proceed to dart out of the room, not sparing a look for the poor unseen souls still sweating in the summer heat.

***

After 45 minutes of scrolling on Tiktok, and getting used to wearing a mask again, I began to wonder just how long I was going to have to wait, and thought that I should probably double check I’m booked in to be seen. 

Good vibes rating: 3/5

Discretion:

“You’re waiting for a coil check darling?” The same receptionist who I had spoken to earlier confirmed, voice at a generously audible volume. “Err – yes, I am?” I confirmed quizzically. 

I prayed that I hadn’t been forgotten about and wasted 45 minutes. 

Discretion rating: 3/5

Waiting time until appointment:

My worries were confirmed when the receptionist told me: “Oh, well, I wouldn’t bother waiting here – The lady who does those doesn’t come in until 3, maybe 4.”

The time was now 12:15. “Oh.” I said. “Right, well, I’m afraid I can’t wait until then – so never mind!”

I wondered out, a little bit annoyed, and a little bit stunned. I wonder how much longer I would have waited, with the weird mobiles hanging over me, descending into madness until a member of the team came and informed me.

Appointment availability: 5/5 

Communication: 0/5

Final comments:

Just like the guy you had a drink with last Friday, Burrell Street has all the right intentions, but not much of the execution. If you have a free day, and a lot of patience then it’s the perfect place to wait. If you’re in need of a quick fix, or a level of communication though – I’d hunt elsewhere for your checkup.