Free NHS Health Checks
Accessible Information Standard
Do you have a disability, impairment or sensory loss & need to receive information in a way you can easily understand? Please let us know.
Please also let us know if you have a reasonable adjustment requirement and we will try to accomodate.
What to expect when you contact us - easy read
For our Deaf and hearing impaired patients:
British Sign Language (BSL) film.
We provide BSL interpreters through CoSign. This may be a physically present interpreter or a virtual interpreter on a computer screen. Please let us know when booking your appointment if your require a BSL interpreter.
You can book GP appointments online using the NHS or MyGP app.
A hearing loop is also available.
Translators our non-English speaking patients:
For health information in other languages Click Here
Translation services are provided by Language Line telephone interpreter services. Please let us know when booking your appointment if you require a translator.
Mental Capacity Act and Emergencies
Making decisions about your health, welfare and finances… who decides when you can’t? Click here to find out more.
You may opt to appoint a Lasting power of attorney (LPA) for finances and/or health and welfare. Please bring us a copy of the registration so we can add it to your medical record.
If a person’s mental or emotional state quickly worsens, this can be treated as a mental health emergency or mental health crisis. In this situation, it’s important to get help as soon as possible. Dial 111 to find out where help is available. If you feel the person or others are in immediate danger then call 999.
Useful Contact Details
Here we have provided a list of useful contact details for organisations that provide help for a variety of issues.
Abortion Help
Provides 24-hour abortion information run by Marie Stopes International clinics.
0845 300 80 90
Self-referral to the local abortion clinic at Burnley General Hospital can be made on:
01282 803767
Age UK
Information and advice on a broad range of topics affecting older people.
01254 266620
ageuk.org.uk/blackburnwithdarwen
Alcoholics Anonymous
For those who think their drinking is becoming a problem, Alcoholics Anonymous offers the chance to talk to someone who can relate to your issues through their own personal experience.
0845 769 7555
Asthma UK Advice line
Asthma nurse specialists provide independent, confidential advice and support to people living with asthma, their families, friends and carers and to health professionals.
08457 01 02 03
Autism Unlocked
Autism Unlocked provides information, advice and support for people with autism spectrum disorders, their families and carers.
https://lsc.autismunlocked.co.uk/about-us/
Beat Eating Disorders
Confidential helpline offering support and advice for anyone affected by an eating disorder.
0808 801 0677
www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Beaumont Society
Advice and support for transgender, trans and cross-dressing individuals to reduce emotional stress and increase understanding.
01582 412220
Bereavement
Help and support for people who are bereaved
Cruse: 0808 808 1677.
www.cruse.org.uk
East Lancs Hospice: 01254 917039
eastlancshospice.org.uk/bereavement-support-service
Be Well BwD
A comprehensive website showcasing the local services available to residents of BwD to Start Well, Live Well and Age Well.
Includes information on services for activity, food, mental health, oral health, drug and alcohol, smoking cessation, wellbeing and much more.
01254 585570
bewellbwd.com/live-well
Breast Cancer Care helpline
Nurses and trained workers with personal or professional experience of breast cancer offer information and support on any aspect of breast cancer or breast health.
0808 800 6000
Brook Advisory Centres
Free and confidential sexual health advice and contraceptive services for all ages
01254 268700
www.brook.org.uk/regions/brook-blackburn/
www.sexualhealthblackburn.co.uk
Cancer backup
Information from nurses about all types and aspects of cancer – diagnosis, treatment, symptom control, clinical trials, support groups and where to get practical and emotional help.
0808 800 1234
Carers - BwD Carers Service
Information, support and advice for anyone looking after someone else.
01254 688440
www.bwdcarers.org.uk
Childline
Support, information and advice for children on any topic they want to talk about – bullying, gangs, puberty, sexual abuse, alcohol, drugs, or anything else that worries them.
0800 1111
Contact a Family
Information on specific conditions and rare disorders for families with disabled children.
0808 808 3555
contact.org.uk
Domestic Violence
National Domestic Violence 24-hour helpline for those who require an urgent response or need in-depth support. The helpline is run by Women’s Aid and Refuge.
0808 2000 247
The WISH Centre Blackburn: 01254 260465
thewishcentre.org
Drink line
Information and self-help materials, help to callers worried about their own drinking, support for family and friends of people who are drinking, and advice on where to go for help.
0800 917 8282
FPA
For information and advice on contraception, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy choices, abortion, or planning a pregnancy
0845 122 8690
Frank
Call for confidential and friendly advice about drugs from professional advisers who will give you straight up, unbiased information.
0800 77 66 00
Heart helpline
British Heart Foundation’s cardiac nurses and information officers provide information to help support any medical advice you have already had from your GP or consultant.
08450 70 80 70
Inspire - Drug and Alcohol Services
01254 495014
Learning Disability
Mencap - advice and information for people with a learning disability, their families and carers.
0808 808 1111
All age Learning Disability Service - Darwen Resource Centre
01772 520202
www.lscft.nhs.uk/learning-disability-service
Macmillan Cancer Line
Information and advice for anyone with concerns about living with cancer 0808 808 2020. Also offers a text phone service on 0808 808 0121.
Mental Health (24/7) - Initial Response Service
Access our local mental health services by calling this number:
0800 013 0707
Mental Health practitioners take calls from patients, service users, families and carers.
www.lscft.nhs.uk/crisis
Meningitis Research Foundation
Trained staff and qualified nurses offer information on meningitis and septicaemia to anyone concerned about or affected by these infections.
0808 800 3344
MIND
Mind’s helpline gives confidential advice and help for people with mental health problems.
0300 123 3393
www.mind.org.uk
Musculoskeletal Service
This website provides patient information, physiotherapy exercise leaflets and videos for the first line management of common conditions affecting the lower limb, upper limb and spine
www.elht.nhs.uk/services/integrated-msk-pain-and-rheumatology-service
NHS Talking Therapies
Self referral into local NHS psychological therapy
01254 226037
www.lscft.nhs.uk/talking-therapies/self-referral
Rethink
Helpline services offering practical and emotional support to those experiencing severe mental illness, their carers and relatives.
0845 456 0455
Shelter
Free housing advice from the homelessness and housing charity.
0808 800 4444
Social Services
Accessing care or extra support
01254 587547
www.blackburn.gov.uk/adult-social-care
If you are concerned about the safety or welfare of a child please phone 01254 666400.
If you are concerned about the safety or welfare of an adult call 01254 585949.
In an emergency, dial 999.
Stroke helpline
Advice from the Stroke Association, which helps stroke patients and their families through its support services and funds research into prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.
0845 303 3100
The Patients Association
For concerns about healthcare in general, This national charity provides patients with a way to raise issues and share experiences as it works to improve the care we all receive.
020 8423 8999
The Samaritans
Confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day, for people who feel distressed, despairing or suicidal.
116 123
THT Direct
Information, support and advice from the Terrence Higgins Trust on all aspects of HIV and sexual health
0808 802 122
www.tht.org.uk
Wellbeing Helpline & Texting Service
Staffed by volunteers and those with lived experience, that offers emotional support if you want to chat about your mental health or are lonely
0800 915 4640 or by texting 'Hello' to 07860 022846
Available Monday to Friday 7pm – 11pm and Saturday to Sunday 12pm – Midnight
Summary Care Record
The NHS has a Central Computer System called the Summary Care Record (SCR).
What is the SCR?
The SCR is intended to support patient care in urgent and emergency care settings. The SCR will store a defined set of key patient data for every patient in England except those who elect not to have one. This data will make a summary record created from information held on GP clinical systems. This summary record will help in ensuring continuity of care across a variety of care settings.
What does it mean for patients and NHS staff?
A patient’s SCR will contain key health information including details of allergies, current prescriptions and bad reactions to medicines. Following the creation of this initial SCR, a patient and their doctor may add additional information to the patient’s SCR. This must only be added with the explicit consent of the patient.
The availability of SCRs will assist in improving the safety and quality of patient care, by providing authorised healthcare staff with, easier access to reliable information about the patient to help with treatment.
As the patient is treated they will be asked by staff if they can look at their SCR every time they need to. Not everyone involved in the patient’s care will be able to see all of their records. The amount of information staff can see will depend on their job. NHS staff who do not need to see information about the patient’s treatment will not be able to view it – for example, non clinical staff will not have access to clinical information unless it is necessary for them to do their job.
Pros & Cons
As with all new systems there are pros and cons to think about. When you speak to an emergency doctor you might overlook something that is important and if they have access to your medical record it might avoid mistakes or problems, although even then, you should be asked to give your consent each time a member of NHS Staff wishes to access your record, unless you are medically unable to do so.
On the other hand, you may have strong views about sharing your personal information and wish to keep your information at the level of this practice. Connecting for Health (CfH), the government agency responsible for the Summary Care Record have agreed with doctors’ leaders that new patients registering with this practice should be able to decide whether or not their information is uploaded to the Central NHS Computer System.
For existing patients it is different in that it is assumed that you want your record uploaded to the Central NHS Computer System unless you actively opt out.
For further information visit the HSCIC website and add if you choose to opt out of the scheme, you will need to complete an “opt out” form, which can be downloaded here .
GP Net Earnings
All GP practices are required to declare the mean earnings for GPs working to deliver NHS services to patients at each practice.
The average pay for GPs working in Springfenisco Healthlink in the last financial year was £70,048.33 before tax and National Insurance. This is for 2 full time GPs, 1 part time GP and 0 locum GPs who worked in the practice for more than six months
