You can view all, or choose to view contacts by community support or medical conditions. The content is reviewed and developed regularly.
Community Services
Age UK
Age UK Isle of Wight offers lots of services designed to work directly with an older person, or enable their family, friends, or carers to promote independence and support health and wellbeing.
Bereavement
The death of a loved one can be devastating. Talking and sharing your feelings with someone can help. For some people, relying on family and friends is the best way to cope, but there are other support services for you too.
Carers
If you provide or supervise a substantial amount of care on a regular basis to a relative, partner, friend or neighbour, who is unable to manage on their own, you are a carer.
Citizens Advice
Problems about health care range from knowing what you are entitled to from the NHS to how to complain if the service is poor.
Citizens Advice provide basic information about your rights to health care, the NHS complaints procedure, how much health care costs and direct you to other specialist agencies who can provide you with help and more detailed information.
Dementia
Although there is no cure for dementia at present, if it’s diagnosed in the early stages, there are ways you can slow it down and maintain mental function.
A diagnosis can help people with dementia get the right treatment and support, and help those close to them to prepare and plan for the future.
With treatment and support, many people are able to lead active, fulfilled lives.
End of Life Support
End of life support involves treatment, care and support for people who are nearing the end of their life, and support for people who are caring for someone who is dying. The links below cover what to expect, thinking about your wishes for your future care, and looking after your emotional and psychological wellbeing.
Hampshire & IOW Children & Young People’s Crisis Line
Freephone 0300 303 1590
The Crisis Line is open: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 3-8:30pm including bank holidays
For any young person 11-17 years old living within/residence of Hampshire County Council & Isle of Wight Council (not Portsmouth or Southampton)
The Crisis Line can provide:
- Immediate access to safe & confidential one to one emotional support via freephone
- Crisis de-escalation
- Self-harm/suicide safety planning
- Advice of healthy coping skills & resources such as CBT/DBT skills, mindfulness, relaxation, self-care, positive mental health
- Signposting for both young people & parents
Living Well
Advice, tips and tools to help you make the best choices about your health and wellbeing.
Mens Health
Information and advice on health areas for men.
Mental Health
Mental health services are free on the NHS, but in some cases you’ll need a referral from your GP Practice to access them.
Some mental health problems can be managed without the help of a GP. There are a variety of materials available and local organisations offering help.
If your mental health difficulty is related to stress at work, you can ask your employer what occupational health services are available to you.
If you want to talk to someone right away, there are mental health helplines you can call for immediate assistance. These are helplines with specially trained volunteers who’ll listen to you, understand what you’re going through, and help you through the immediate crisis.
- Samaritans: immediate assistance
- Big White Wall: online mental health community
- Time to Change: mental health in the workplace
- NHS: how to access mental health services
- Young Minds: children & young people’s mental health support & advice
- Rethink Mental Illness: network of local groups & services
- Silver Cloud: online course to help you manage stress, anxiety and depression
- Richmond Fellowship: community safe haven
Patient Transport
Patients who are able are required to make their own arrangements to attend appointments or treatment. Only if there is a medical need will a home visit or transport to hospital be arranged.
There are membership schemes (shown below) for the elderly and frail to take passengers to pre-booked destinations. These are often for medical appointments, but can also be for other reasons.
Alternatively options include: taxi, public transport, self-help (own vehicle or driven by friends or family).
Transportation to and from Hospital appointments
The Patient Transport Service provides transport 7 days a week for patients in cases of medical need for outpatient appointments, admissions, discharge and transfer.
It is only made available to those who meet strict eligibility criteria based on Department of Health Guidance. If required and identified by your GP for your first hospital clinic appointment your GP’s secretary will authorise and book your transport. Further requests for transport must be identified and authorised by the Consultant or Allied Health Care Professional who is treating you.
Sexual Abuse
Help for the sexually abused, as well as their friends and family.
Medical Conditions
Accident & Emergency
The (Accident &) Emergency Department (ED) is open to anyone who needs emergency care because of a serious illness or accident. When you arrive you will be assessed by a senior nurse. You may have tests or investigations, and be seen and treated by other nurses and doctors. Many people can go straight home after treatment, but you may be admitted to a ward at St Mary’s or transfered to another hospital for care, if necessary.
If your condition is not an emergency – for example, you have been suffering from a medical problem for more than 48 hours or have a long-standing illness or health problem, you should:
- speak to your local pharmacist for minor illnesses
- telephone NHS 111 for health advice – available 24/7 (calls are free from landlines and mobile phones)
- go online to your GP Practice’s website and use eConsult to contact your GP Practice
Alcohol Dependency
If you have become dependent on alcohol, you will have found it difficult to fully control your drinking in some way.
You will probably need some help either to cut down and control your drinking or stop completely, and also some plans to maintain the improvement after that.
There are support groups and other alcohol counselling that may suit you.
Children’s Health
Advice during pregnancy, on children’s immunisations, if your child is unwell, should they go to school, issues impacting young persons, and parental advice
Diabetes
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. If you’re diagnosed with diabetes, you’ll need to eat healthily, take regular exercise and carry out regular blood tests to ensure your blood glucose levels stay balanced.
Losing weight improves diabetes control. If you want help with losing weight please visit:
NHS Better Health and The NHS Weight Loss Plan App – a free 12-week programme at www.nhs.uk/better-health
NHS Digital Weight Management Programme is available for adults with a BMI greater than 30 (27.5 for ethnic minority groups) with a diagnosis of diabetes or hypertension or both: www.england.nhs.uk/digital-weight-management
NHS Diabetes Advice helpline
NHS England and NHS Improvement have launched a new helpline in response to disruption to normal diabetes services due to the COVID-19 pandemic and response.
The service is for adults living with diabetes who use insulin to manage their condition and require immediate clinical advice.
Whether you or a member of your household have caught the virus, or routine care has been disrupted, the helpline is available for immediate clinical advice to help you understand how to effectively manage their diabetes.
You can access NHS Diabetes Advice via Diabetes UK’s support line on 0345 123 2399 Monday-Friday from 9am-6pm.
Diarrhoea & Vomiting
Diarrhoea and vomiting are common in adults, children and babies. They are often caused by a stomach bug and should stop in a few days.
You can usually treat yourself or your child at home. The most important thing is to have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.
In adults and children:
- diarrhoea usually stops within 5 to 7 days
- vomiting usually stops in 1 or 2 days
Drug Addiction
If you need treatment for drug addiction, you’re entitled to NHS care in the same way as anyone else who has a health problem. With the right help and support, it’s possible for you to get drug free and stay that way.
Flu
Flu vaccinations are free for eligible patients according to the national criteria.
BENEFITS OF OUR FLU VACCINATION SERVICE:
It only takes a few minutes. Given by skilled staff who have your medical history and the back up of a GP on site.
This year, due to the restrictions owing to Covid-19, we will be contacting eligible patients by letter, SMS or email initially. Patients will be invited in specific groups on set days, these are mainly at our Sandown branch where there is much more space to allow for social distancing and also facilities to enable us to vaccinate shielding patients in their cars. There will be some clinics run at the Shanklin branch but these are limited due to space restrictions. Please be patient if you have not yet received your invitation, we will be in touch. Some walk-in clinics may be available in October and we are currently looking at how to manage this process safely.
Gambling
Heart Disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) includes all heart and circulatory diseases, including coronary heart disease, angina, heart attack, congenital heart disease, hypertension, stroke and vascular dementia.
It’s also known as heart and circulatory disease. Risk factors, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, increase your chances of developing heart and circulatory diseases. The links below can help you understand your risk and how you can reduce it.
Minor Injuries
A Minor Injuries Unit can treat injuries that are not critical or life-threatening.
You may wish to consider calling 111 in the first instance before attending the Minor Injuries Unit at St Mary’s, Newport.
Types of injuries treated by the Minor Injuries Unit can include:
- injuries to upper and lower limbs
- broken bones, sprains, bruises and wounds
- bites – human, animal and insect
- burns and scalds
- abscesses and wound infections
- minor head injuries
- broken noses and nosebleeds
- foreign bodies in the eyes and nose
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a health condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break. It develops slowly over several years and is often only diagnosed when a fall or sudden impact causes a bone to break (fracture).
Physical Activity for Long Term Conditions
Disease specific resources for patients
Benefit From Activity website – The information for this patient site has been taken from the RCGP fact sheets with the medical jargon removed. With the same evidenced information. it means information is synergistic between health professional and public
ACE UP ‐ A pedometer intervention to increase walking in adults and older adults. An exciting proven practical walking intervention for general practices to help our patients walk more. This intervention has been shown to reduce cardiac events and fractures in those who took part.
Cancer
- Cancer Research UK – Useful web site pages aimed at encouraging exercise as a way of reducing cancer risk.
- Macmillan support materials – Information for those with cancer and after treatment. Ways to become active has links into activities near you.
- Macmillan Cancer Support also has videos on the benefit of exercise after a cancer diagnosis. Search for Move More events on Macmillan’s website.
Cardiac health
- British Heart Foundation – Advice on Staying Active.
Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic Kidney Disease – National Kidney Federation and Kidney Research UK both have physical activity advice
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- The British Lung Foundation – Advice for patients on exercise.
Diabetes
- Diabetes UK is a leading charity group with a wealth of diabetes information and resources both for patients and healthcare professionals.
- Diabetes UK – Information on exercise for diabetes and other advice on diabetes management.
Dementia
Disability
- Activity Alliance – an organisation that supports and promotes activities for people with disabilities.
Fibromyalgia
- NHS Choices self-help guidance on exercise for fibromyalgia
Mental Health
- The Royal College of Psychiatrists has information on exercise and mental health for young people
- The MIND Get Set to Go programme provides tips, stories and support to help people with mental health conditions get active
Multiple Sclerosis
- The Multiple Sclerosis Trust – Patient information section on exercise.
Musculoskeletal Health
- Versus Arthritis – Advice on exercise to manage pain and arthritis.
- Versus Arthritis – Exercise sheets and videos for patients on:
- Ankle sprain exercises
- Back pain exercises
- Knee pain exercises
- Neck pain exercises
- Osteoarthritis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Shoulder pain exercises
- Elbow pain including tennis elbow
- Keep moving conditions for home exercises
- The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists has created a section of their website particularly for GP information on exercises for patients with free downloads and plenty of advice on a range of conditions including keeping health at work.
- ShoulderDoc.co.uk – A website designed to provide information for patients and doctors on shoulder injuries.
Osteoporosis
- The Royal Osteoporosis society has developed a series of recommendations for exercise and physical activity for osteoporosis and bone health
Pain and Exercise
- Understanding and managing pain: information for patients – The British Pain Society leaflet has a good description about pain and exercise p17-19, including a pain cycle diagram and very sensible explanations to help understand pain.
Parkinson’s Disease and Exercise
- The Parkinson’s UK Website advice on exercise with links.
Pregnancy and Exercise
- While there have been a range of guidelines from around the world, the last UK one was in 2006. The latest global guidelines is the Canadian one. 2019 Canadian guideline for physical activity throughout pregnancy
- UK Guidelines: Pregnancy and Physical Activity Chief Medical Officer Infographics
- Tommy’s Charity has excellent sensible advice on exercise in pregnancy.
Self Motivation for Exercise
- This Girl Can is a national campaign developed by Sport England and partners to inspire women to move more and prove that judgement is a barrier which can be overcome.
Sitting and Exercise
- Getting Started – Simple tips on increasing activity in your daily life.
- Do you sit at a desk all day – The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists has a useful set of exercises on a free pdf download for desk workers or even use yourself!
- Get Britain Standing – The campaign to grow awareness and educate on the dangers of sedentary behaviour.
- Walk4life – A useful walk site for the UK with a simple ordnance search map to look for walks anywhere in the UK and a useful widget device (puts their website direct on your own website). The widget can be loaded onto business websites, public companies’ websites etc. Individuals who sign up free can put their own walks on and monitor their own fitness via the website.
- Walk Unlimited -The home site of the organisation behind Walk4life and Benefit from Activity. They have several useful websites on healthy lifestyle and a site of ‘Dr maps’ with examples of maps which have been created for GP surgeries, hospitals or businesses. Why not get walking maps around your health establishment for yourself, staff and patients
- Walking for Health – England’s network of walking schemes
- Let’s Walk Cymru – Wales network of walking schemes
- Paths for All – Scotland’s network of walking schemes
- Walk NI – Northern Ireland’s network of walks and groups
- Couch to 5k -The starting course from sedentary through to running with a 9 week course of training podcasts.
- The Daily Mile – Encourages school children to become active
- Parkrun – Organise free weekly 5km runs around the UK in parkland
- Sustrans – The cycle charity promoting cycling as a healthier, cleaner and cheaper mode of transport with plenty of advice and cycle routes available by a postcode search. Has the National Cycle Network on their site to access for routes near you.
- The Activity Alliance – Organisation that supports and promotes sport for people with disabilities. Helps you find activities to suit the individual if you are disabled.
- 10 Today. 10 Today is an exercise programme launched by a host of experts and led by older people, for older people. It provides a series of easy and accessible 10-minute broadcasts, which can be done almost anywhere and at any time, in a group or alone, standing up or sitting down, and which can be adapted to different fitness levels. 10 Today aims to increase physical activity amongst older people across the country, helping to improve physical and mental wellbeing. Watch the workouts.
Sexual Health
Sexual health services are free and available to everyone, regardless of gender, age, ethnic origin and sexual orientation.
Services and advice are available from:
- sexual health clinics (which can also be called family planning, genitourinary medicine
- (GUM) or sexual and reproductive health clinics)
- GPs
- some pharmacies
- young people’s services
If you are not sure which service is right for you, call NHS 111, and they will be able to advise you.
Not all service providers offer the full range of sexual health services, and it’s always best to check what’s on offer in advance.
Smoking
Smoking is one of the biggest causes of death and illness in the UK. Smoking increases your risk of developing more than 50 serious health conditions. Some may be fatal, and others can cause irreversible long-term damage to your health, or to those around you.
There is advice and support to help you stop smoking.
Veterans
A veteran is anyone who has served for at least 1 day in the armed forces, whether regular or reserve. This also applies to Merchant Navy seafarers and fishermen who have served in a vessel when it was being used for military operations by the armed forces.
All veterans are entitled to priority NHS treatment for any condition related to their service. This includes veterans who don’t receive a war pension. Priority treatment includes assessment, treatment, aids and appliances for conditions accepted as being due to their service.
Women’s Health
Information and advice on health areas for women.