SELF CARE
If you have a minor illness, please consider accessing pharmacies first for advice.
You could also download the NHS Child Health App for further advice on childhood illnesses too.
A&E deals with life threatening emergencies.
Please contact 111 for urgent care outside of practice opening hours.
We recommend the following websites for general health advice:
General Advice and Guidance for Children:
https://www.cumbriapartnership.nhs.uk/our-services/children-families/our-children-and-families-services/childrens-therapy
Looking after your child’s health - An NHS guide for parents and carers of children aged 0-5 years:
Guide to Children's Health Aged 0-5 Years
Do you need advice on healthy living, diet and exercise?
Please click on this link for helpful advice:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/
Persistent Physical Symptoms Service
We are a rehabilitation service designed to support people in understanding and managing their symptoms, with the aim of improving both their day to day activities of daily living as well as improving their mood.
The people we support may experience chronic (or persistent) pain or they may have been given a diagnosis such as Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ ME, Functional Neurological Symptoms (including Non-Epileptic Attacks) or Medically Unexplained Symptoms.
Our team provide a combination of physical and psychological interventions and includes clinical psychologists and practitioners, physiotherapists, CBT therapists, rehabilitation assistants and assistant psychologists.
Please click on the link below to access our website and useful resources:
Persistent Physical Symptoms Service
Please see below for a selection of self-help advice leaflets for certain conditions.
Understanding Dementia
COPD Rescue Pack
Aches and Pains
Hay Fever and Allergies
Holiday Medication
Falls Prevention
Self Referral to Physiotherapy
You can benefit from physiotherapy if you are suffering from low back pain, neck pain, strains and sprains or joint and muscular pain. Physiotherapy can also help with male/female incontinence.
You are able to self-refer to Physiotherapy providing fit the referral criteria above.
Please click on this link to open the self-referral form, guidance and advice leaflet:
Physiotherapy Self-Referral Form
Unfortunately the service is not available if:
You want to see a physiotherapist about a neurological or breathing problem
You need a home visit
You are under secondary school age (if you are under 16 you will need to be accompanied by a parent/guardian)
If you want physiotherapy following a recent operation - your surgeon will need to refer you directly.
If you have recently had surgery, your consultant will usually refer you for physiotherapy.
Learning Disabilities and Autism
Below, is a link to a STOMP information pack for carers and families of people with learning disabilities.
Counselling and Mental Health Support Services
Self-referral to First Step for talking therapies - Over 18's
First Step is part of Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and provides free, talking therapies to adults (18+) in Cumbria. First Step can help with a range of common mental health problems including mild to moderate depression, anxiety disorders (such as chronic worry, panic attacks, health anxiety and obsessions), mild bulimia, anger or sleep problems.
Patients are able to self-refer to First Step for this service and do not need to be referred by their GP or Nurse.
You can refer yourself by clicking on the link below. You will be asked to complete a short questionnaire
(if you are unable to access First Step online, then you can complete the questionnaire by phoning 0300 123 9122)
Link to First Step Self-Referral Form
Information on First Step Referral Services
The Lighthouse Project (on Spencer St) is a service run by MIND – open 6pm – 11.30pm every night of the year for people who are feeling low/not coping/stressed – during times of crisis and need support that night. Call 0300 561 0000 for an appointment.
www.mindlinecumbria.org
Lighthouse Service Carlisle
Free online Counselling and Wellbeing Service available for Over 18's in Cumbria: Secure online chat and messaging...
just click on this link...
https://www.qwellcounselling.com/
For under 18's a free, safe and anonymous online support service is available up until 10pm....
Just click on this link......
Other useful mental health resources:
Samaritans Tel: 116 123
NHS Choices Moodzone - links to sources of self help and online help: NHS Choices Moodzone
Moodjuice - Moodjuice
Borderline Counselling Carlisle - Tel: 01228 596900 or visit Borderline Counselling
Safety Net Carlisle: Support the recovery of those affected by rape, sexual and domestic abuse: Tel 01228 515859
Mind Carlisle & Eden: Tel 0300 561 0000 or visit Mind Carlisle & Eden
Rapid HIV Testing in Pharmacies across Cumbria
These pharmacies are there so you don't need to go to your local GP or GUM clinic. Just nip in, have a chat with them, get a test done,
(which takes all of 5 minutes) then walk out with the results. EASY!
So whats stopping you? Fear of being seen?
You could be going into a pharmacy to talk about ANYTHING. That's the point of this project, it's there to hide you from people you may know. We all know what Cumbria is like when it comes to sexual health and rumours that fly around. But nobody is going to know why you went into that little private room in the pharmacy. For all anyone knows, you have a rash on your big toe.
WORRIED? GET TESTED!
Rapid HIV Testing Centres in Cumbria
Cervical Screening
A cervical screening test (previously known as a smear test) is a method of detecting abnormal cells on the cervix. The cervix is the entrance to the womb from the vagina.
Detecting and removing abnormal cervical cells can prevent cervical cancer.
Click on this link to learn more about Cervical Screening:
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Cervical-screening-test/Pages/Introduction.aspx
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/
https://www.jostrust.org.uk/about-cervical-cancer