SELF CARE & HEALTH ADVICE

Your GP recommends that the symptoms you are experiencing should be looked into as quickly as possible.

They have referred you using the 2 week referral process.

What does this mean?

Most people will not have cancer but it is important to act quickly to rule out cancer or to ensure early diagnosis and treatment, which improves outcomes.

Please try to accept the first appointment offered to you. Please inform your GP if you have any holidays in the next 2 weeks or if you have any difficulty in attending the hospital for this appointment.

Many people find it helpful to take a friend or relative along with them to the appointment and you are very welcome to do so.

You may find it useful to think about any questions you might want to ask. You could write them down to take to the appointment.

What will happen now?

You will receive information about the appointment within one week. Please ensure your practice has your most up-to-date contact details.

If you do not hear within 1 week or if you cannot attend the appointment you have been given, please call the Contact Centre on: 01228 814006

Click here to download a PDF of this information

Spencer Street Surgery

We are pleased to announce that our practice patients will be able to benefit from award winning, high quality films, courses and animations designed to help healthcare professionals advise patient’s on managing long-term conditions safely and effectively at home. They provide courses of educational material focusing on the causes, symptoms, risks, treatment and management of each condition.

In addition to specific disease areas there are also more general topics such as keeping well at work, ageing well and general lifestyle advice.

There is no need for patients to sign up for an account, all you need is a unique link that can be sent through via the practice or click the links below:

Title	Link
Ageing Well at Home	Click Here
Back Pain	Click Here
Children - Diet & Exercise Course	Click Here
COPD	Click Here
COPD Course	Click Here
Dementia	Click Here
Diabetes	Click Here
Diabetes Course	Click Here
General All Videos	Click Here
Heart Failure	Click Here
Keeping Well at Work	Click Here
Lifestyle Animations	Click Here
Mental Health at Work Course	Click Here
Sleep Course	Click Here
Weight Loss Surgery	Click Here
Weight Management Course	Click Here
Smoking Cessation Course	Click Here

The Healthier Together website provides useful resources for parents, carers and young people (via information leaflets, self-care advice, and guidance on when and how to access appropriate local healthcare services). Please follow this link for more details https://www.nenc-healthiertogether.nhs.uk/parentscarers

The NHS Healthier Together app has been designed to provide parents with information to reduce parental anxiety and support parents to make informed choices on when to access healthcare or selfcare at home.

Download Healthier Together mobile application :: North East and North Cumbria Healthier Together (nenc-healthiertogether.nhs.uk)

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 16's....

Just click on this link.....

https://togetherall.com/en-gb/

For under 18's a free, safe and anonymous online support service is available up until 10pm....

Just click on this link......

https://kooth.com/

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

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.

if you are over the age of 18, 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:

Unfortunately the service is not available if:

You are under the age of 18

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.

SOCIAL PRESCRIBING SERVICE

We have employed social prescribers to help support you to improve your health, wellbeing and independence. Social Prescribing Link workers are 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.
Provide non clinical help to support you to manage long term health conditions

Please click on this link to view a document which explains our social prescribing service

Social Prescriber Service Explained

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

COMPASS CUMBRIA

To access a wealth of information on services provided by third sector and voluntary organisations in our area please visit Compass website. Compass in Cumbria is a groundbreaking way of linking the Third Sector, Social Care and Health together providing a connected and holistic service for the residents of Cumbria.

Here you will find details of activities that are organised in our local area, useful factsheets and guides and also links to organisations that can provide help and assistance.

Compass Cumbria

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

Get the Right Treatment

Every year, millions of us visit our GP with minor health problems that can be easily resolved without a doctor's appointment.

It is estimated that every year, 50 million visits to the GP are made for minor ailments such as coughs and colds, mild eczema, and athlete's foot. By visiting your pharmacy instead, you could save yourself time and trouble.

Self-care

Keeping a well stocked medicine cabinet at home can help you treat many minor ailments. Colds, coughs, indigestion and many other minor complaints can all be treated with medicines that are available over the counter.

Your pharmacist can advise on what you might find useful to keep in your medicine cabinet. Always follow the instructions on the medicine label and consult your doctor if the illness continues or becomes more severe.

Your Local Pharmacist

local pharmacy

Pharmacists offer professional free health advice at any time - you don't need an appointment. From coughs and colds to aches and pains, they can give you expert help on everyday illnesses. They can answer questions about prescribed and over-the-counter medicines. Your local Pharmacist can also advise on healthy eating.

Pharmacists can also advise on health eating, obesity and giving up smoking. Some pharmacists have private areas where you can talk in confidence. They may suggest you visit your GP for more serious symptoms. It is possible to purchase many medicines from the chemist without a prescription. Watch this short video on how you can get the most out of your local pharmacy

Accident & Emergency (A&E)

Major A&E departments assess and treat patients who have serious injuries or illnesses. Generally, you should visit A&E or call 999 for emergencies, such as:

loss of consciousness,
pain that is not relieved by simple analgesia,
acute confused state,
persistent, severe chest pain, or
breathing difficulties.

If you're injured or seriously ill, you should go, or be taken, to A&E. If an ambulance is needed you can call 999, the emergency phone number in the UK. You can also dial 112, which is the equivalent for the European Union.

Major A&E departments offer access 365 days a year and usually open 24 hours a day. Be aware that not all hospitals have an A&E department.

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