Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
A simple scan call tell me aged 65+ if they have an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
This is an enlargement of the main blood vessel in the abdomen and if left untreated it can be fatal.
Men aged 65+ are most at risk.
NHS screening invitations will be sent to men aged 65 this year and those over 65 can request a scan.
For more information call 01905 733830, visit www.nhs.uk/aaa or talk to your GP.
Diabetic Eye Screening
Are you living with diabetes?
Not enough hours in the day to fit everything is?
We know your life is hectic but we don’t want your sight to be at risk.
Don’t worry we have you covered, we are now offering some evening and weekend appointments so you can fit your eye screening in around your working day.
Appointments can be booked at any venue around our programme area, not just the venues closest to your home. Just ask if you’d like to find out more.
Call us today on 0121 661 2220
Visit www.bsbcdesp.co.uk
Email enquiries.bsbcdesp@nhs.net
Hospital Appointments
If you have been waiting for an appointment and have not heard from the hospital, you should contact the hospital switchboard in the first instance and then the Consultant’s secretary.
The PALS service (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) can also be contacted if you are unable to get through to the right person or are unsure of who you should contact. You can call PALS on 0300 123 1732 or email wah-tr.PALS@nhs.net
Please be aware that once your referral letter has been sent, your GP is not notified of waiting times, nor do they have access to any hospital hotline numbers.
Practices are experiencing an increasing number of requests from patients to expedite their hospital appointments. Please note that waiting a longer time for an appointment does not deem your request as urgent and your GP will not be able to provide a letter to expedite your appointment for this reason.
If you are experiencing worsening symptoms relating to the condition for which you have been referred, we advise you to contact your specialist directly so that they can assess your condition and make the necessary arrangements if they feel they need to bring your appointment forward.
Only the hospital can compare your needs with other patients on their waiting list. The hospitals are aware that GPs will not provide such letters on behalf of patients, and they should not advise you to contact your GP.
If you have difficulty contacting your specialist, we advise you to contact the hospital PALS department for assistance as stated above. If you wish to, you can also write directly to the specialist outlining any change in your condition and requesting that they review your hospital notes alongside your letter to determine whether your appointment should be brought forward. In this letter you should also request that they contact you directly to inform you of the outcome of that decision, and the likely wait for further care.
In the event of a change in a potentially life-threatening health condition - for example a known cancer, or heart or lung symptoms you should contact NHS 111. In the case of a life-threatening emergency, you should dial 999 or attend A&E.
Thank you for your patience and support at this time of intense demand on general practice. By following the actions outlined in this letter you will help your GP practice to free up valuable appointment for those who need them.
Health advice at your fingertips
The Health Information Video Library contains self-help videos covering several different health topics. For more information please visit videos.herefordshireandworcestershire.icb.nhs.uk
Healthy Living for people with type 2 diabetes
Healthy Living is a free online NHS service for people living with type 2 diabetes. It provides knowledge and information that will support you to manage your condition.
www.healthyliving.nhs.uk
Details & information on how to refer yourself to local services
Plus - People Like Us
Loneliness and Isolation Affects Us All
If you’re aged 18 or over and regularly feel lonely, reach out. We’re Here.
Overcome Mental Health Challenges With Our Support
Loneliness is widely recognised and can be devastating for people’s physical health and emotional wellbeing
People Like Us (Plus) is a service that works across Worcestershire to support people of all ages who are feeling lonely or isolated.
Our friendly and experiences team are here to support and guide you to make positive changes in your life. We will work with you to make these changes at your speed and in ways that feel right for you.
We will support and enable you to build confidence. We will guide you to connect with other people with similar interest.
Who is the Plus service open to:
- Anyone aged 18 or over and registered with a GP Practice in Worcestershir
- People who regularly feel lonely
The Plus Service is delivered by Onside in partnership with Worcester Community Trust and Simply Limitless. Supported by a wide range of other local partnerships.
75% of people surveyed said they would not know where to go to get help.
People particularly likely to be affected include:
New mums, students, young men and women, care leavers, recent retirees, those facing bereavement and those diagnosed with a life changing health condition.
Come to us directly or ask someone to call on your behalf. Our friendly team can offer more information or an informal chat.
Call our Access Team on: 01905 27525
Email us: Plus@onside-advocacy.org.uk
Download our referral form: www.onside-advocacy.org.uk/plus
My Planned Care
My Planned Care gives you advice and support while you wait and helps you to prepare for your hospital consultation, treatment, or surgery. This includes giving you information about waiting times at your hospital and other supporting and local services while you wait.
This site is updated weekly and can be viewed by anyone, which means you, your family or Carer as well as your NHS team can all see the latest information.
Your hospital team will be in touch with you as soon as they can. If you are looking for an update, please check this website before contacting your hospital or GP.
Access this service.
Find Your NHS Number
This service is available on the NHS.UK website. To receive a reminder of your NHS number click here.
Cost of Living - Let's Work Together
Everybody will be facing a change in their circumstances this Winter as the cost of living is set to increase.
The contact details of organisations and agencies across Bromsgrove and Redditch can offer expert advice and support and signpost you to the correct help which you may need. Whether you receive benefits or not, there is support and advice from trusted services available to you.
- Take Action ASAP
- If you’re experiencing financial difficulties, it’s always better to deal with them straight away. Acting quickly could make a big difference to you.
- Let your relevant agency or creditors know you are struggling. You may be able to agree with them a temporary reduction on your payments. It’s always better to pay something than nothing.
- Help is available, it’s best to face things head on and get in touch with the relevant agency as soon as possible.
- Prioritise essential household bills like rent, mortgage, Council Tax, gas and electricity above credit cards and loans - let creditors know you are struggling.
- If you can’t keep on top of gas and electricity payments, please continue to pay what you can and talk to your supplier.
- Make sure the advice you are given is from a trusted and official source.
Bromsgrove District Council information
Worcestershire County Counclin information
HANDI Paediatric
Download the new Worcestershire ‘HANDI Paediatric’ App to get up to date advice about common childhood illnesses and how to treat them.
The conditions covered are:
Coronavirus
Information on the coronavirus for both parents and families
Diarrhoea and vomiting
Including gastroenteritis
Chestiness
Bronchiolitis, asthma, wheezing and croup
High temperature
Meningitis, septicaemia, the common cold, urine infections, chicken pox, ear infection and sore throat
Tummy pain
Bowel, genitourinary and other causes of abdominal pain including diabetes and pneumonia
Common newborn problems
Under 1 month - including crying, feeding, weight gain, pooing, seeing, vomiting, skin conditions
To download this app visit: apps.apple.com/gb/app/handi-paediatric/id969445171
Catherine Adams Physiotherapy FCP Services
FCP First Contact Physiotherapy, is a new NHS service in which you see a physiotherapist instead of your GP for your first appointment about your musculoskeletal condition. This service is available for patients 16 years of age and over.
Musculoskeletal conditions can be:
- Soft tissue injuries, sprains strains or sports injuries
- Arthritis in any joint
- Possible problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons or bones e.g. tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome
- Spinal pain including lower back, mid back and neck pain
- Spinal related pain in arms or legs including nerve symptoms e.g. pins and needles or numbness
- Post orthopaedic surgery
The appointment will involve taking details to assess and make a diagnosis.
We will then discuss a treatment plan with you, this may be, exercises to self-manage or refer you for onward treatment to the appropriate service.
Contact directly on telephone: 07436797891
Meet the Catherine Adams Physiotherapy Team
Catherine Adams
Anna Meadows
Eleanor Scofield
Social Prescribing
Helps you to explore extra services that may support you to improve your health, wellbeing and independence.
Contact the team on:
Social prescribers: 0300 303 5291
Wellbeing Coaching: 01905 27525
Lifestyle Advice: 01905 27525
How Does It Work?
A member of your GP practice team may suggest a referral to the Social Prescribing service. One of our Social Prescribers will contact you to find out what you are interested in, tell you about what activities and services are available locally and help you to access them.
Together you will be able to:
- Explore what is important for your life and wellbeing.
- Identify the local activities and services you can benefit from.
- Gain support and encouragement to start using services that can help you.
The social prescriber is:
- Someone to talk to confidentially.
- Someone who is practical, helpful and who will not judge you.
- Someone who can help you decide what you’d like to do to improve your health, wellbeing and independence.
- Someone who can find you activities that will suit you.
- Someone who can give you support along the way.
Social prescribing can link you with many services in your community to help. These may include:
- Healthy lifestyles and active lives.
- Arts, music, outdoors and creativity.
- Befriending, counselling and other support groups.
- Housing, benefits and financial support and advice.
- Employment, training and volunteering.
- Education and learning.
- Getting involved in local groups and activities.
- Accessing specialist services and support.
Welcome to the Starting Well Partnership
We support families, parents, children and young people across Worcestershire to lead happy, healthy and fulfilled lives.
This includes:
- Family Hubs (for information about Free Childcare, Free Healthy Start vitamins etc)
- Health Visiting Teams
- School Nursing Teams
- Breastfeeding Support
- Parenting Support
The Starting Well Partnership now has 1 simple number: 01905 520 032 parents, carers and professionals wishing to speak with a member of the team can now use this number to contact all services provided by the Partnership.
For more information about our service please visit our website: www.startingwellworcs.nhs.uk
Worcestershire HANDi Paediatric App
The Worcestershire HANDi Paediatric App provides expert support for parent/carers and medical professionals caring for children with the most common childhood illnesses and is now available to download for free via the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Well-Being App Library. It is hoped that the app will enable parent/cares to better self-manage common childhood conditions and reduce demand on primary and secondary care.
Strong and Steady Exercise Classes
We are now taking registrations for classes in being held at:-
- Bromsgrove Methodist Church
- New Song Church, Sidemoor
- Fathers Barn, Rubery
- The Village Hall, Wythall
To register your interest in joining this nationwide falls prevention programme please complete the registration form below or call me Hayley on 01527 881404. I can take your details over the telephone in a few minutes and discuss the most suitable venue for you to attend.
Fall prevention
The Strong and Steady Exercise programme is designed for people who feel unsteady on their feet or have had a fall. These classes aim to improve strength and balance, and they make people feel more confident when out and about. They could make the difference between remaining independent living too.
Any medical professional can refer into the class or if you feel that you would benefit from this type of targeted exercise you can complete the registration form yourself, and we will be in touch. Once we receive the referral you will be invited to attend a session that is close to your home.
If you would like to join any of these classes or would like more information, in the first instance please complete the form below and someone will get in touch with you, or call Hayley on 01527 881404.
To refer yourself to this service use the link below to complete the referral form:
www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/sas
Previously known as Let's Talk, Healthy Minds support people who are experiencing difficulties such as stress, anxiety, low mood and depression.
Helpful contact numbers
Catherine Adams Physio: Tel: 01527 559594
Health Visitors Tel: 01527 488320
District Nurse Tel: 0300 7906253
Community midwife: Tel: 01527 512146
Sexual health & family planning: Tel: 01527 516398
Substance misuse Cranstoun: Tel: 01905 721020
Occupational therapy: Tel: 01527 488016
Princess of Wales Community Hospital: Tel: 01527 488000
Alexandra Hospital Redditch: Tel: 01527 503030
Emergency Dentist: Tel: NHS 111