We would like to express our congratulations if you are pregnant and happy to be so.

• Click here to arrange your antenatal / pregnancy care with the local midwives and hospital service

You can self refer for a free hearing test free at Boots Hearing Care or Specsavers or other local providers.

IF YOUR CHILD IS UNWELL

It can be very worrying if your child is unwell. Most child illnesses are self limiting and will get better with a little tender loving care.

The leaflet below is very helpful:

If you have been recently diagnosed with Dementia or if you are a carer of someone with dementia you can contact the Havering Living Well With Dementia and the Carer Information and Support Programme:

Web: alzheimers.org.uk

What is the Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge Falls Service?

We are a multidisciplinary team working across the boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge. The team consists of a Falls Consultant, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Nurse, Integrated Care Assistants and Administrators. 

Whom do we target?

We assess and treat residents who are aged 60 and above and have any of the following:

• Slip/trip/fall or near slip/trip/fall in the previous year
• 5 medications or more
• Have balance problems
• Unable to rise from a chair of knee height

What is our aim?

• To prevent onset of trips/slips and falls
• Reduce the number of slips/trips/falls or near miss slips/trips and falls
• Reduce hospital and A&E admissions
• To minimise patient’s fear of falling and build confidence to achieve independence and quality of life
• Educate patients and carers on coping strategies 

Please contact the team on: 

• PHONE: 0300 555 1201, ext 57383
• EMAIL: BHRFallsservice@nelft.nhs.uk

The teams provide an out-of-hours service working with care professionals to advise and assist on social work matters including carrying out community risk assessments and supporting vulnerable individuals and families over the telephone.

Please call Mental Health Direct on 0800 995 1000.

IAPT services

Patient can self- refer to IAPT by calling 0300 300 1554 option 3. Please see the service leaflet for more information. 

Social Prescribing

Social Prescribing involves helping patients to improve their health, wellbeing and social welfare by connecting them to community services run by the council or a local charity. It uses a person-centred approach provide a non-clinical, non-medical intervention and prioritises the patients needs by focusing on ‘what matters to me’ to adopt a holistic approach.. The aim is to create change and enhance the individuals health and wellbeing.

Please contact your surgery to refer you to this service. 

You can self refer directly to our local mental health services for a spectrum of problems from stress through to significant depression and anxiety:

Barking and Dagenham Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme:https://www.talkingtherapies.nelft.nhs.uk/barking-and-dagenham 

Havering, Barking and Dagenham MIND: https://www.haveringmind.org.uk/

Please get in touch on 01708 457040 or email reach.us@haveringmind.org.uk

Support for People Bereaved by Suicide

Mind – Safe Connections – Local Support for People Facing Suicide: Grief in Pieces offers support through a range of options and is open to anyone who has been bereaved by suicide: Please self-refer here

Samaritans

Urgent Support – Free 24 hour support  The Samaritans Email: jo@samaritans.org Call: 116 123 

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

• Kooth.com offers a wide range of therapeutic tools to help children and young people and support their mental wellbeing. Kooth is a free, safe and anonymous online wellbeing service for children and young people.

• Samaritans – Dedicated volunteers will continue to support anyone in crisis from branches, wherever possible, during this challenging time. Call 116 123 

• Young Minds  24/7 texting service, free on all major mobile networks, answered by trained volunteers who are supported by experienced clinical supervisors. Text: YM to 85258 

• No Panic  is a registered charity that helps and supports those living with Panic Attacks, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders and other related anxiety disorders.

No Panic also provides support for the carers of people who suffer from anxiety disorders.

Barking and Dagenham CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

You can also contact and self refer to Havering CAMHS for child and adolescent mental health issues. (This include concerns re ADHD though we would strongly advise that these concerns are discussed first with your school and your school’s educational psychologist who is best placed to help and the specialist and gateway to children’s mental health services).

Tel: 0300 555 1035 
Email: BDSpCommChildren@nelft.nhs.uk

MECS is a service provided by Evolutio Care Innovations, for patients experiencing recently occurring medical eye conditions and is provided through a local network of accredited community optometrists, supported by 3 regional Evolutio Ophthalmology Clinics. Appointments are offered during practice working hours and the patient will be seen within 48 hours, but usually on the same day (depending upon the condition or symptoms experienced by the patient). All referrals are triaged by Evolutio and decide whether or not the patient can be seen in the community or needs an onward referral to hospital or rapid access services.

Please contacts Evolutio 112 Tele-triage service on 0800 112 0070 for clinical triage and signposting to most appropriate MECS provider. 

For more information on what conditions are covered, please see the attached leaflet.

You can treat lots of common illnesses and injuries at home – in fact, that’s the best place for you. 

A big part of your recovery from these minor ailments like coughs and colds, grazes, minor strains and hangovers is to rest and drink plenty of fluids.

You can plan ahead by stocking up on some healthcare essentials like:

• paracetamol or aspirin
• indigestion remedies
• plasters
• rehydration remedies
• a thermometer

You can find all these at your local pharmacy. Pharmacists give expert, confidential advice and treatment. There may be a very small wait but there is no need for an appointment. You can get advice about health issues and the best medicine for you.

Last year 8% of A&E visits could’ve been dealt with by a pharmacist. That means hundreds of thousands of people sat in A&E for hours when a nearby pharmacist could have seen them within minutes.

Many pharmacies also offer:

• The morning after pill, for free to eligible customers
• Allergy screening.
• Chlamydia screening.
• Medicine ‘MOTs’ – to help you use your treatments correctly.
• New medicine service – to help you understand how to use new treatments.

Follow this link to find your nearest pharmacy

At Hedgemans Medical centre, we are here and able to support you in discussing your wishes and plans with your pregnancy, including termination. If you prefer, the local service also accepts self referrals.

• Click here to self refer for a Termination of Pregnancy

For free home STI screening, emergency and routine contraceptive services click here

You can also directly access the locally run Sexual Health Services

WHEN DO I NEED A FIT NOTE? (aka sick note)

7 days off sick or less

If you’re off work sick for 7 days or less, your employer should not ask for medical evidence that you’ve been ill. Instead they can ask you to confirm that you’ve been ill. You can do this by filling in a form yourself when you return to work. This is called self-certification.

More than 7 days off sick

If you’re off work sick for more than 7 days, your employer will usually ask for a fit note (or Statement of Fitness for Work) from a GP or hospital doctor. Fit notes are sometimes referred to as medical statements or a doctor’s note. Your Consultant must provide you with any certificate related to your hospital care.