Home > News > London 2012 Olympic Games – Information for patients and visitors

Published: 17 Jul 2012

The Torch Relay has already begun and the Olympic Flame is travelling around the country now. It will visit every London Borough and comes through Tooting on Monday, 23rd July 2012 at about 17.00hrs.

The Olympics opening ceremony takes place on Friday 27th July 2012 and the closing ceremony takes place on Sunday 12th August 2012.

The Paralympics opening ceremony takes place on Wednesday 29th August 2012 and the closing ceremony takes place on Sunday 9thSeptember 2012.

How will St George’s Healthcare be affected?

While many of the Olympic and Paralympic venues are located in other areas of London, some events will take place in nearby venues.

Please be aware and plan carefully, particularly around the key dates and events locally which are:

  • Monday 23rd July: The Olympic Torch Relay will pass through Wimbledon and Tooting in the afternoon. Severe traffic congestion is expected between 16.00hrs – 19.00hrs
  • Wednesday 25th July – Sunday 5th August: Olympic Route Network (ORN) in place. This takes Olympic traffic from central London to Wimbledon via Wandsworth.
  • Thursday 26th July – Friday 27th July: The Olympic Torch will be passing through the London Borough of Wandsworth. Disruption to traffic is expected during this time.
  • Saturday 28th – Sunday 29th July: The Men’s and Women’s Olympic Cycling road races will be taking place. There will be significant road closures in place in southwest London and Surrey and therefore wide-spread traffic disruption is expected.
  • Tuesday 31st July and Wednesday 1st August: Kingston time trial familiarisation and road race event. Road closures will be in place throughout Kingston and Hampton Court area.
  • Saturday 28th July – Sunday 5th August: The Olympic Tennis, to be held at the All England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon.

Travelling to your appointment

Please ensure you plan ahead and allow plenty of extra time to travel to your appointment, as roads and public transport services are expected to be much busier than normal.

Visit the Get Ahead of the Games website: www.getaheadofthegames.com or TFL’s website: www.tfl.gov.uk to plan your journey.

What to do if you are unwell during the 2012 Games

Visit the NHS Choices website for help finding the right service if you are unwell or injured during the London 2012 Games. Please think carefully about the most appropriate place if you or your family require healthcare, rather than heading straight for A&E. Alternative services include GP surgeries, community pharmacies, minor injuries unit or walk-in centres where people will be seen quicker. NHS Choices also offers advice to help you stay safe and healthy during the London 2012 Games and offers advice to visitors from abroad.