You can self-refer to some community services without having to see your GP first. A list of local services are below.
Muscles, Joints and Feet
Physiotherapist
If you have been experiencing pains in the joints, shoulders or back and they haven’t got better for more than 3 weeks. The website also has useful information such as exercises you can do to relieve pain and strengthen muscles.
Musculoskeletal Services (whittington.nhs.uk)
Podiatry
For problems with the feet such as pain when walking, in-growing toenails, corns which do not get better despite the treatments available at the pharmacy.
NOT SUITABLE for: fungal toenails (see the chemist), nail clipping (unless you have diabetes and are unable to do this safely yourself), verruca (see chemist).
Patient Self-Referral to Podiatry Services (www.whittington.nhs.uk)
Mental Health
Anxiety, low mood, depression
Feeling low? Anxiety? Worried you have depression?
iCope is a free NHS service that works alongside us at the practice who can offer support and psychological treatment for these conditions.
iCope | Free Help for Stress, Anxiety, Depression and Insomnia
If you are having suicidal thoughts or are feeling like things are out of control, or it is an emergency, please call the Islington Crisis Team (24/7) on 0800 917 3333 or the Samaritans on 116 123
Other resources
NHS approved Good Thinking website for problems with sleep, anxiety, low mood and stress
Good Thinking – NHS approved wellbeing service | Good Thinking (good-thinking.uk)
Money, Housing, Work, Life …. etc
We are Islington
Contact We are Islington for support getting food or medicine, or if you are struggling financially due to the pandemic. Residents can also call for a friendly chat, support to leave their home, and information about online group activities and staying healthy and well.
Support getting back into or finding work
Islington’s iWork service offers help to anyone who is out of work in Islington to find a job, apprenticeship, training or education.
Support finding work | Islington Council
Feeling isolated, problems at home, wanting to feel more connected
Help on Your Doorstep aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Islington, especially those who are vulnerable and isolated. Working with residents we seek to find solutions to the issues which make life difficult, strengthen communities to do more for themselves and enable people to improve their life chances.
Women’s Health and Sexual Health
Maternity – New Pregnancy – Antenatal
If you have found out you are pregnant then you can refer yourself to the hospital to see the midwife. Please do this as soon as you know you are pregnant.
UCLH: Your pregnancy : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (uclh.nhs.uk)
Whittington: Maternity Booking – Online Self Referral form (www.whittington.nhs.uk)
Termination of Pregnancy
If you have decided not to continue with your pregnancy, or if you are not sure and you would like some advice, then you can make an appointment with the services directly.
Home – North Central London CCG
Contraception
If you would like to have a coil (copper or Mirena) or contraceptive implant fitted or removed, please call the dedicated service who can arrange this for you on 0345 300 2350.
Sexual Health Testing
If you do not have symptoms, you can request a discrete self-test delivered to your home for free. Visit: https://www.shl.uk/.
If you are having symptoms, please contact the sexual health clinic via their website: https://www.shl.uk/clinic/archway-centre
Help for Carers
Are You a Carer?
If you are please let us know – we may be able to help you
There is a wealth of information on the NHS website about carers and caring. Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.
- A guide to care and support – information for carers and people who have care & support needs.
- Caring for someone – advice on providing care, medicines etc.
- Care after hospital – providing care for people who have been recently discharged from hospital.
- Taking a break – caring for someone can be a full-time job – find out about accessing breaks and respite care.
- Support and benefits for carers – caring for someone can be a full-time job – find out about accessing breaks and respite care.
- Work and Disability – guidance, support and help with employment issues.
- Being a Young carer – advice for carers 18 or under and their entitlement to support
Finance and Law
Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring.
- Benefits for carers -directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role
- Benefits for the under-65s – advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to.
- Benefits for the over-65s – advice and information on financial support for older people with a disability or illness.
- Carer’s Assessment – how your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits
- Other benefits – advice for carers and the people they are looking after on claiming a whole host of other benefits unrelated to their disability or caring
Contact Carers Direct
Telephone – 0808 802 0202
Helpline Information – nhs.uk/carersdirect/carerslives/updates/pages/carersdirecthelpline.aspx
Email – [email protected]
Office Hours – Lines are open 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm at weekends. Calls are free from UK landlines.
ISLINGTON CARERS HUB is there to help. Please call 0800 085 1141(FREEPHONE)
Domestic and Sexual Abuse help
Please visit the following website for more support:
https://www.candi.nhs.uk/about-us/corporate-information/safeguarding/domestic-abuse-support
Sleeping issues
Please visit the following website for more support:
Help for Armed Force Veterans
If you are or have been a member of the Armed Forces, please do let the practice practice know so that we can code you on our system in order that we can signpost you to the right services as and when you might need them.
The NHS is keen to provide you with access to support and resources and you can find a lot of useful information at the various sites below.
Please visit the following website for more support: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/
What other services are available to veterans?
Hearing loss and tinnitus services
In-service (MOD DMS) and veteran (NHS) provided hearing devices are provided to meet a clinical need. Veterans requiring hearing devices and tests should access via their GP and local provision, where NHS providers will be able to take account of service-related hearing issues. Private providers may, at personal cost, be able to provide non-standard equipment and devices.
More information on hearing aids: Hearing aids – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Mobility equipment support
The Royal British Legion has a Veterans’ Mobility Fund, which provides specialist wheelchairs, orthotic equipment and other mobility related items for veterans who have a service related serious physical injury and whose needs cannot be met through statutory services. Eligibility for the fund requires the condition to be attributable to service and typically applicants will be in receipt of a War Pension or relevant award under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. To find out more, visit the Veterans Mobility Fund section on The Royal British Legion website.
Veterans’ Gateway
The Veterans’ Gateway is made up of a consortium of organisations and Armed Forces charities, including The Royal British Legion, SSAFA, Combat Stress and Connect Assist. It is a main point of contact for veterans seeking support, putting them and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the information, advice and support they need – from
healthcare and housing to employability, finances, personal relationships and more. For more information, visit the Veterans’ Gateway website.
Contact
Contact is a group of charitable, support and state organisations that have joined forces to enhance mental health support available to the Armed Forces community. The partnership consists of Big White Wall, Cobseo, Combat Stress, Help for Heroes, The Royal British Legion, Walking With The Wounded, the NHS, the MOD, the UK Psychological Trauma Society and King’s College London. Contact aims to improve collaborative care management, increase instances of help-seeking behaviour, improve service provision, encourage best practice across the sector and improve public knowledge of what support is available and how best to access it. For more information, visit the Contact website.
Cobseo
Cobseo, as the Confederation of Service Charities, offers membership to charities who promote and further the welfare and general interests of the Armed Forces community, subject to fulfilling the membership criteria. Comprising 255 members, Cobseo provides a single point of contact for interaction with the Armed Forces community. For more information, visit the Cobseo website.
Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes provides direct, practical support for wounded, injured and sick service personnel, veterans and their loved ones from any conflict. They have four recovery centres in the UK offering medical care, guidance, support and advice. Patients can self-refer or be referred by a professional. Once referred, an initial assessment will take place within one to two weeks and there is no waiting list for treatment. For further information, visit the Help for Heroes website.
Combat Stress
Combat Stress is the UK’s leading mental health charity for veterans. It provides free specialised clinical treatment and support to ex-servicemen and women across the UK with mental health conditions. Combat Stress has a strategic partnership with the MOD and the Department of Health and Social Care. This enables the charity to work with NHS mental health to develop services suitable for military veterans. For further information, visit the Combat Stress website.
Blesma
Blesma supports limbless veterans to lead independent and fulfilling lives. Blesma is dedicated to assisting serving and ex-service men and women who have suffered life-changing limb loss or the use of a limb, an eye or loss of sight. They support these men and women in their communities throughout the UK and provide centralised assistance to those living overseas.
Blesma works closely with the NHS to ensure the latest advances in the relevant medical fields are converted into practical solutions that can benefit all of their members. They do not provide members prosthetics, but they do help prosthetists develop their skills at undergraduate and PhD level.
For further information, visit the Blesma website.
General Health and Minor Health Issues (such as hay fever)
Weight loss and support getting healthy
The exercise on referral scheme is currently paused – in the meantime, here is a guide to everything available on the NHS and locally to help with getting in shape and feeling better:
Alternative options for getting active or losing weight in Islington
Stopping smoking
Stopping smoking can be really hard and we know that the chances of success are far higher when you have structured, expert support. This is all available for free. You can also contact a local pharmacy who may offer the service.
Minor Ailments Scheme
For minor illnesses such as coughs, colds, cystitis, your local pharmacist can usually help you get simple remedies and advice without waiting to see the doctor.
Please note you do not need to visit your doctor to access this service. You can approach your pharmacy directly! The treatments are often free.
Conditions that can be treated using Minor Ailments Scheme:
| Athletes Foot | Cold & Flu | Cold Sores |
| Constipation | Cough | Cystitis |
| Diarrhoea | Earache | Eye infections – Minor |
| Hay Fever | Head Lice | Indigestion |
| Insect Bites/Stings | Minor Cuts and Burns | Mouth Ulcers |
| Nappy Rash | Piles | Sore Throat |
| Sprains/Strains | Sunburn | Teething |
| Temperature | Threadworms | Vaginal Thrush |
| Verruca | Warts |
Dietitian
Please see the website for the conditions they will see.
Patient Self-Referral to Nutrition and Dietetic Service (www.whittington.nhs.uk)