Royal Free Hospital
The Royal Free Hospital Main Switchboard is available for connecting callers to various departments, wards, and services within the hospital. Common reasons for calling include managing NHS appointments, making complaints or compliments, and seeking patient advice. The switchboard operates Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00, and Saturday from 09:00 to 13:00. Typical wait times can vary, with peak hours often leading to longer waits, especially on Monday mornings and during lunchtime. For quicker service, consider calling during off-peak hours or using online contact forms when available.
Updated 15 Dec 2025
Expected outcomes
- Connect to specific wards
- Change NHS appointments
- Cancel NHS appointments
- Submit complaints
- Request patient transport
- Make compliments
- Submit FOI requests
Call preparation
Assemble everything before you dial. These requirements are verified by our call analysts and updated as organizations change their scripts.
- NHS number
- Patient details
- Ward name
- Appointment details
- Incident details
- FOI request details
Known issues
Callers may experience long wait times during peak hours, such as Monday mornings and lunchtime. To avoid this, it is advisable to call during off-peak times or use online contact forms where possible. Misrouting can occur if the department or service needed is not clearly stated, so ensure you provide specific information when requesting a connection. The switchboard staff are trained to handle a wide range of queries and can assist in directing calls to the appropriate department efficiently.
