Signposting

Here is an overview of the services provided by NHS England.

Some of these services include:

• Emergency and Urgent care
• General Practitioners (GP’s)
• Self Help services – such as pharmacies
• Dental care

However choosing the service which best suits you is not always easy and there can often be more than one avenue that suits your situation.

If you’re not sure on which route to take, please use the check list below to help you identify the best starting point based on your needs.

Call NHS 111 if you urgently need medical help or advice but it’s not a life threatening situation. You can call NHS 111 if you’re not sure which NHS service your need

Ask your local Pharmacist for advice – your pharmacist can give you advice for many common minor illnesses, such as diarrhoea, minor infections, headache, travel advice or sore throats – NHS Choices

Make an appointment with your GP if you are feeling unwell and it is not an emergency

Visit a walk-in/urgent care centre if you have a minor illness or injury (cuts, sprains or rashes) and it cant wait until your GP surgery is open

Call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk

First Contact Plus

First Contact Plus is an online tool which helps adults in Leicestershire find information about a range of services all in one place.

The initiative allows residents who require help with one or a number of issues to access a catalouge of information, advice, help and support.

First Contact Plus is a self referral service

They offer help and support covering a range off issues, including:

• Improving Your Health
• Falls
• Feeling Safe
• Living Independently
• Money, Debts and Benefits
• Work, Learning and Volunteering
• Families and Relationships
• Your Home

For more information please visit their website First Contact Plus or call them on 0116 305 4286 or email firstcontact@leics.gov.uk

Smoking and reasons for giving up

Don’t give up giving up!

Smoking kills 120,000 people each year in the UK. Smokers are 50% more likely to get ill and die.

Nicotine in cigarettes is ten times more addictive than heroin. It is never to late to stop smoking.

Tips for Stopping

• Make sure you plan for your quit attempt
• Pick a date to quit and stick to it
• Get support from family and friends
• Reward yourself – use the money you have saved

Stay positive and focused and take one day at a time.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and Zyban

These products will double your chances of successfully quitting. Contact our local pharmacy or the practice for more information.

For Help and Support

There are many ways in which you can quit smoking. However with the right help and support you are more likely to stay smoke free.

1. Call NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0169 or
2. Quit Ready on 0345 646 66 66 or visit their website Quit Ready

Self referral to Physiotherapy

If you feel that you could benefit from Physiotherapy and don’t want to wait weeks for an appointment please contact Physiotherapy Direct on 0300 300 0046 during the telephone consultation you will be asked for the following:

• Your NHS number (your surgery can provide this information)
• Your current address and mobile/home number(s)
• Your Next of Kin details – such as contact information
• GP Surgery name and address

Please make sure that you have this information to hand when contacting the Physiotherapy Team. You may also be asked for information relating to your problem, your communication needs and your ethnicity.

Click here to download the Physiotherapy Direct Self Referral Card

BPAS

If you discover that you have a pregnancy that you feel you are unable to continue with, Bpas will provide help and support so that you can make a decision that is fight for you. In addition to abortion advice and treatment, Bpas provide other services through their network of reproductive healthcare centres, which include:

• Pregnancy testing
• Counselling
• Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening
• Contraception
• Vasectomy

Click here  to book an appointment or call them on 03457 30 40 30.

Safeline

Safeline is a leading specialist charity for sexual abuse and rape providing helpline and online support services throughout the UK.

It offers free services to people of all ages, who are survivors of abuse including their families and friends.

#5MillionMen and #8MillionWomen in the UK have been affected by sexual abuse and rape

At Safeline they offer:

• Supporting – offering counselling and support services to those who have been affected by the traumas that sexual abuse, rape and their associated issues reveal
• Preventing – actively working towards stopping rape and sexual abuse from happening

For more information please visit Safeline or alternatively contact them on 0808 800 5008 or email them on support@safeline.org.uk

Click here For more information – United Against Violence & Abuse

Change 4 Life

There are many ways in which to ensure that your children are getting enough of the correct foods, sugars, proteins and other essential vitamins within their daily diets. By joining Change 4 Life you can get money off vouchers, top tips on how to start making healthier choices for your children.

Millions of families have already made healthier changes – you can, too!

To sign up Click here to Join Change4Life and start making healthier  choices for your family. You can also use their FREE app to access over 160 quick, easy and tasty recipes with step by step videos.

Get it on Google Play         Available on the App Store

For more information about Change 4 Life please visit their website Change 4 Life

Change4Life Snacking    Change4Life Teeth Hygiene   Change4Life Dental Top Tip

 Fun ideas to help your kids stay healthy

Local Area Coordinator

Vicky Utting is our Local Area Coordinator, the areas that she covers are Agar Nook, Greenhill, Coalville East & West and Snibston North & South.

Some of the services that she can offer to you and your family include:

• Help setting goals
• Provides information
• Provides support people to access the right services if required
• Listen to ideas from the community
• Connects people to groups for informal support
• Spends time to understand a person’s strengths and aspirations

To get in touch with Vicky please contact her on 07534 263203 or for more information

Click here to download the Local Area Coordinator leaflet

Podiatry

Podiatry services aim to keep the population mobile, help users to keep their independence and maintain their quality of life, by providing an expert and complete range of services for those with a clinical, medical and/or physical need. These services include:

• Corn, Callious and nail treatment
• High risk diabetic foot ulcer care
• Complex biomechanical assessment and treatment
• Provision of insoles and Orthoctics

Treatment plans are individual aiming to either resolve the problem or to reach a level of maintenance and comfort.

Click here to download the Podiatry Self-referral form you may need your NHS number, if you don’t already know it just contact reception and this can be provided to you.

Active Together

Active Together are here to make physical activity and sport more accessible and part of our everyday lives.

Getting active is a way to improve your physical health and mental wellbeing. Physical activity for you might be participating in sport or doing the Couch to 5K. But it might also be a brisk walk with the dog, visiting parks or woodland with family, or doing gentle exercises in your living room. It can support weight management, muscle strengthening, and improve health conditions.

Research shows the benefits of physical activity can help prevent or manage many common health conditions. Exercising helps keep symptoms under control and prevents additional conditions from developing.

Active Together is here to support you get active – in your own way.

For more information about Active Together please visit their website Active Together or call 01509 467500.

DHAL – Diet, Health and Activity in Leicester  

DHAL is a 10 week weight management programme targeting the South Asian community in Leicester. It is run by Leicestershire Nutrition & Dietetic services working in partnership with physical activity instructors.

For more information Click here to download the DHAL information sheet or call them on 0116 222 7154

Weight Management

get help to loose weight. Visit www.leicestershirewms.co.uk

The Silver Line Charity

There is no need to be alone! 

The Silver Line Charity is a helpline for older people. It is FREE and confidential helpline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. They offer information, advice and friendship through their helpline and services.

More than half of people aged 75 and over live alone with 1 in 10 suffering intense loneliness.

Some of the services available include:

• Telephone Friendship – a weekly 30 minute call between an older person and a Silver Line Friend Volunteer
• Silver Letters – a fortnightly exchange of a letter between an older person and a volunteer Silver Line Friend
• Silver Circles – a call between a group of older people on a shared interest or topic, taking place each week for 60 minutes
• Silver Line Connects – help with informing and connecting an older person with national and local services

For more information please visit their website The Silver Line Charity or call them on 0800 470 80 90

Lamp Mental Health

Lamp has and always will be a champion for mental health. We are an independent mental health charity founded in 1989. Our service is independent, confidential, trusted and non-judgemental. We provide free community mental health advocacy for people living in Leicester, and Carers Advocacy for people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Our aim is for you to feel valued, listened to and more able to cope, and to be able to access the services to support your needs through:

• Finding the right information
• Knowing your rights
• Understanding mental health
• Express your views
• Supporting Carers

for more information please visit https://www.lampadvocacy.co.uk/ 

Mental Health Support – Counselling Service

The service provides psychological assessment and treatment (talking therapies) for common mental health problems, which 1 in 4 of us will suffer with at some stage in our lives. This includes depression, anxiety, panic, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma and stress.

It is normal to experience changes in your mood and behaviour at times of stress and emotional upset. Your physical health may also affect your mood and stress levels. If these changes continue to affect you, then the Vitaminds service could help.

Working in partnership with the NHS, Vitaminds are part of the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme. We have a team of mental health experts who are highly-trained, accredited practitioners committed to excellence in clinical standards, who will ensure you always have the best chance of achieving positive outcomes individual to you.

Self referral

If you are suffering from anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, low mood or excessive worry, VitaMinds can provide you with advice, guidance and support. We take the time to understand and listen to what you need to get back on track.  We provide a range of evidence-based talking therapies as well as guidance and advice on community services that can support you in your local area.

You can self refer into the service using the website here

Alternatively you can call us on 0330 094 5595

NEW MSK APP

The MSK app has been developed to offer support and guidance on how to manage a Musculoskeletal (MSK) condition or injury. This can relate to any injury, disease or problem with muscles, bones or joints.

MSK is short for MusculoSKeletal. Any injury, disease or problem with our muscles, bones or joints is known as a Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD).  A broad term covering common injuries such as sprained ankle and stiff neck through to conditions such as arthritis.

MSK problems are very common.  Symptoms can include pain, stiffness swelling, muscle weakness, numbness or pins and needles.  They can bother you at home, at work, or through activities and sport.  There are over 400 medical conditions that can affect bones, muscles and joints. Getting quick access to good information helps people with muscle, back and joint problems get back to normal quicker.

Clinical guidance and exercise videos can be of benefit to anyone with an MSK condition/injury.

Turning Point

Turning Point provide a wide range of health and wellbeing services.

Whether you come to us with drug or alcohol issues, a mental health concern or a learning disability, we’ll give you the individual support you need.

By tailoring our services we can support you each step of the way.

For more information or access to this service please visit the website https://www.turning-point.co.uk/

Alternatively you can call the dedicated freephone number: 0808 800 3302

WithYou – Over 50s Alcohol Helpline

As we get older, alcohol has more of an impact on our health and wellbeing.

Changes in our lives and routines can lead us to drink more than we used to – and the health effects of alcohol can build up over the long term.

If you’re over 50 and have concerns about your drinking, or you’re worried about someone else, our helpline is for you.

This service is available 7 days a week.  

To Speak to someone

Call the over 50s helpline on freephone  0808 801 0750  The Helpline is open Monday to Friday 12pm – 8pm and 10am to 4pm at weekends

Book an appointment

Book a Telephone Call

Book a Video Call

More information is available online here