Covers serviceswithin the areas:3 Burton-upon-Trent

3 Uttoxeter

Health & Social CareSupport Directory2013 - 14

ContentsContents

Disclaimer

This directory has been compiled to cover health and social care options throughout the East Staffordshire CCG.

Whilst we have taken every care in compiling this publication, the publishers and promoters cannot accept responsibility for anyinaccuracies.

All listings are supplied via the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and NHS Choices. Neither Healthwatch Staffordshire nor HealthCarePublications Limited can be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

A note on advertising: We offer businesses the chance to reach potential customers via this publication. It is our intention to clearlyindicate that an advertisement is being displayed and no endorsement or approval by the promoters of any product, service orsupplier should be implied.

All signposted services are up to date as of November 2013.

Healthwatch Staffordshire - About us

Have your say

Expressing complaints & Concerns

Healthwatch Champions

East Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group

Choose Well

Healthy Living

Directory Listings

Choosing a GP

GP Surgeries

Pharmacies

Dentists

Opticians & Hearing Centres

Are you a Carer?

Independent Living

Advice on paying for Care

Legal Terms

Care in your home

Nursing & Residential Care

Residential & Nursing Homes

Help & Advice

Another quality publication by Healthcare Publications Limited.If you require extra copies of this directory or interested in advertising infuture editions please contact Healthcare Publications on 0333 444 0214SIGNPOSTING LOCAL HEALTHCARE

ABOUT US

What does Healthwatch Staffordshire do?

• Gathers the views and experiences of people within Staffordshire, about their health and social care priorities.

• Produces reports which influence the way services are designed and delivered throughout Staffordshire.

• Provides information, advice and signposting about local services, as well as commissioning the NHS Complaints Support Service.

• Passes information, issues and concerns to health and social care regulatory bodies and escalate recommendations to Healthwatch England.

What is Healthwatch Staffordshire?

Healthwatch is the new, independent consumer champion for health and social care in Staffordshire. Our job is to argue for the consumer interest for all those who use health and social care services in thecounty. Replacing the Staffordshire LINk’s role,we are backed up by a national body,Healthwatch England.

What powers does Healthwatch have?

• Healthwatch Staffordshire has a seat on the local Health and Wellbeing Board - the body that oversees health and social care in the country – and therefore can influence how services are set up and commissioned.

• We have statutory powers to enter and view health and social care services using our trained Healthwatch Champion volunteers who undertake the role of authorised visitor.

• Has a place on the new Quality Surveillance Groups that have been set up in the NHS to monitor provider quality.

Healthwatch Staffordshire is delivered by EngagingCommunities Staffordshire (ECS).

ECS is a community interest company that bringspublic engagement, consultation and consumer advice services together in a centralorganisation to create evidence and insight to help improve local health and social careservices.

The Healthwatch network is a new kindof consumer champion in health andsocial care. We will make sure the voiceof the consumer is heard and actedupon. With our independent statutorypowers, the network as a whole has afantastic opportunity to make adifference. Healthwatch England looksforwards to making sure the public’svoice is heard loud and clear by thosewho plan, run and regulate health andsocial care services.

Anna Bradley, Chair of Healthwatch England

Healthwatch Staffordshire

Call us on 0800 051 8371Or visit our website

www.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.ukor email at

enquiries@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk

Follow us @HWStaffordshire or like us on Facebook at Healthwatch Staffordshire

If you have any questions or queries with regardsto Engaging Communities Staffordshire

Visit our website atwww.engagingcommunitiesstaffordshire.co.uk

or email atcontactus@ecstaffs.co.uk

Follow us @ECStaffs or like us on Facebook

Allowing the public to ‘have your say’ and‘making your voice count’ are the fundamentalroles of Healthwatch Staffordshire. Servicesshould be and will be based on children, youngpeople and adults needs and experiences andaccountable to local people. Every voice countswhen it comes to shaping the future of servicesand improving them for today.

We’re here, ready to get started, so come andtalk to us. Your words will make a differenceand by contacting us with your experiences wewill make your voice count.

Healthwatch Staffordshire wants you to haveyour say in a variety of ways whether its byposting a comment on our website(www.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk),following us on Twitter @HWStaffordshire, likingus on Facebook at HealthwatchStaffordshire,making a complaint using ourindependent NHS complaint support service, or,by using our Free phone number 0800 051 8371.What matters is making your voice count andyour local Health and Social care services areguided and shaped by your feedback.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Health related care is provided by the NHS. SocialCare is the responsibility of the Local Authority andis provided by a range of organisations.Healthwatch Staffordshire would like to know whatHealth and Social Care issues are important to you,your family and friends.

Tell us what you would like HealthwatchStaffordshire to do for you:

1. Are you happy with the Health and Social care you are receiving?

2. Do you have a relative or friend living in a Care Home? Are you/they happy with the care they receive? Please tell us of your positive or negative experiences.

3. Can you get an appointment with your GP (Doctor) when you need to?

4. Have you had to stay in hospital recently, if so, what was it like?

5. Do you or a relative suffer from a long term illness; are you / they happy with the help and support you / they receive?

6. Do you know what services are available and how to choose the right one, when you need urgent care?

Thank you for giving us your feedback. This willhelp Healthwatch Staffordshire to continue toprioritise its work.

EXPRESSING COMPLAINTS & CONCERNS

General Practitioners (GPs)If you want to make a complaint or express aconcern relating to your GP Practice, your firstport of call would be to contact your GPdirectly. If you wish to take your complaint orconcern further, CCGs are also interested inknowing about patients’ concerns (as CCGscommission GP Practices) and are willing toreceive complaints about the provider servicesthey commission. These concerns would bedirected to the Commissioning Support Unit(CSU) PALS service.

The CSU PALS will try to resolve concerns, willsupport patients to make formal complaintswhere necessary and will refer eligible patientsto the NHS Complaints Support Service. Please contact:

Commissioning Support Unit PALS:

Tel: 0800 030 4563

Text Phone: 075 406 68541 or

Email: pals@staffordshirecss.nhs.ukor feedback@staffordshirecss.nhs.uk

If you are unhappy with any aspect of your carewhilst attending any of the hospitals which arepart of Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust(Queen’s Hospital in Burton, Sir Robert PeelCommunity Hospital in Tamworth, or SamuelJohnson Community Hospital in Lichfield) thenyou should contact Burton NHS Foundation TrustProvider PALS service. PALS is an impartial,welcoming, open and confidential service forpeople who would like information or advice, orwould like to comment about any aspect of theservices provided by the Foundation Trust.Please contact.

Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust PALS. Telephone: 01283 593110 Email: pals@burtonft.nhs.uk

You can make a formal complaint by writing to The Chief Executive, The House, BurtonHospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Belvedere Road,Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 0RB.

If you want to express a concern or make acomplaint about any aspect of NHS Treatment oradult social care you have received from theStaffordshire and Stoke on Trent PartnershipTrust, please contact.

Complaints Team, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Partnership NHS Trust, Morston House, TheMidway, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire ST5 1QG

Tel: 0845 602 6772

Email: complaints@ssotp.nhs.uk

If you want to express a concern or make acomplaint regarding any aspect of NHStreatment or social care which you havereceived from the South Staffordshire andShropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.Please contact:

South Staffordshire and Shropshire HealthcareNHS Foundation Trust, St George’s Hospital,Corporation Street, Stafford, ST16 3SRTelephone: 0800 318850

If you are unhappy aboutthe way StaffordshireCounty Council has

delivered social care services, and would like toexpress a complaint or concern, please contact.

The Monitoring Officer, Staffordshire CountyCouncil, Peel Building, St. Chads Place,Stafford, ST16 2LR

Tel: 0300 111 8000

Email: customer.feedback@staffordshire.gov.uk

NHS Complaints Support Service

“The NHS ComplaintsSupport Service is there to provide advocacysupport to people who wish to make acomplaint about the service – or lack of it – thatthey have received during a Health Servicedelivery circumstance.”

Delivered by POhWER, advocates will support anindividual through the complaints process. Theywill explain the options available and supportyou to pursue your chosen course of action.

ECS/Healthwatch Staffordshire will be workingalongside POhWER in order to provide theadvocacy service to those who wish to engagewith health care services in Staffordshire.

They do not however investigate or encouragecomplaints, nor do they offer legal or medicaladvice.

The NHS Complaints Support Service isfree, independent and confidential.

What can they do?

• Provide individuals with a Self Help Information pack to help them find their own way through the complaints process

• Explain how the NHS complaints procedure works

• Listen to a complaint and discuss options available

• Help individuals to write letters regarding complaints

• Attend meetings and give support

• Speak to other agencies on your behalf when requested

• Provide information on other services an individual may wish to access

• Help to obtain medical records

Unit 25 & 32, Staffordshire University Business Village,Dyson Way, Staffordshire Technology Park StaffordST18 0TW

Email: pohwer@pohwer.net

Website: www.pohwer.net

Tel: 0300 456 2370

EXPRESSING COMPLAINTS & CONCERNS

If unhappy in the waywhich the NHS hashandled a complaint you

can contact the Parliamentary and HealthService Ombudsman, please contact by:

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman,Millbank Tower, Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP

Tel: 0345 015 4033

Website: www.ombudsman.org.uk

Email: phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk

If you are not satisfied with theoutcome of a decision taken, youcan contact NHS England, who willtry and do everything that it can to

respond well. If you have a complaintconcerning the treatment or service provided bythe NHS please contact:

NHS England, PO Box 16738, Redditch B97 9PT

Tel: 0300 311 2233 (Mon-Fri 8.00 – 18.00)

Web: www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/complaint/

Email: England.contactus@nhs.net

HEALTHWATCH CHAMPIONS

Become Involved

Anyone can become involved with Healthwatch andcontribute to its activities because everyone’sviews matter. You can do as much or as little asyou like – from filling in a survey, attending theoccasional meeting about an issue of personalinterest, signing up as a Healthwatch Member orbecoming a Healthwatch Champion

What are Healthwatch Champions?

Healthwatch Champions are volunteers who act asthe voice of the local community. They talk tolocal people about the quality of health & socialcare in their area and are committed to supportingHealthwatch Staffordshire to improve services.This role is vital to the improvement of localservices by prioritising the issues that really matterto you in your own local area.

Healthwatch Champions can undertake as much oras little as they like from a range of Championspecific roles.

Role of a Champion include:

• Be the eyes and ears of local people and raise issues of concern.

• Make recommendations on how to improve local services.

• Tell people about Healthwatch and encourage them to become involved.

• Promote Healthwatch events and projects to local people.

• Liaise with other people/groups involved with engagement work.

• Attend meetings, groups & events as a Healthwatch Member, representing your own views based on personal experience.

• Talk to patients about their experiences of using health and social care services.

• Visiting health & social care providers, as part of our Enter & View portfolio and activity.

How to become a Healthwatch Champion

No qualifications are needed to become aHealthwatch Champion; just a willingness to listenand talk to a range of individuals, an open mindand a desire to raise the voice of local people.

Champions who are authorised by HealthwatchStaffordshire will undertake relevant training andsome roles will require a Disclosure and BarringService check (previously CRB check).

You can become a Champion by:

Contacting Healthwatch Staffordshire on0800 051 8371 or emailing atenquiries@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk

From here we will send you an information packwith additional information about HealthwatchStaffordshire. This will include a role descriptor forChampions and an application form for you tocomplete and return to us.

It is only with your support that HealthwatchStaffordshire can make a difference to the qualityof local services.

Anyone can apply to become a HealthwatchChampion, however if you wish to take a lessactive role you can sign up to be a HealthwatchMember where you receive regular updates andnewsletters.

EAST STAFFORDSHIRE

As part of the changes to the NHS brought aboutby the Health and Social Care Act 2012, PrimaryCare Trusts (PCTs) and Strategic HealthAuthorities (SHAs) ceased to exist on the 31March 2013.

From April 2013, groups of General Practicesknown as NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups(CCGs) commission health services for theirlocal populations. Commissioning healthservices involves identifying the health needs ofthe population and ‘buying’ the appropriatehigh quality services necessary to meet thoseneeds within the budget allocated.

CCGs are membership organisations andtherefore member GP practices will be centralto our work as East Staffordshire CCG. There are19 member practices catering for the populationof around 135,000 in East Staffordshire/

• Uttoxeter• Burton-upon-Trent• Abbots Bromley• Tutbury

The CCGs vision is that by 2016, people in EastStaffordshire will live longer, healthier and happierlives. To do this the East Staffordshire CCG aimsto...

• Develop a culture of genuinely Clinician-led commissioning, taking decisions in the best interests of the local population.

• Engage with patients and the public with respect to decisions taken about their health services.

• To ensure that all selected providers have the right level of capacity and capability to undertake the work specified by the CCG.

• Focus on quality first by emphasising the importance of getting it right first time. From this efficiency and productivity will follow.

• Establish and strengthen working relationships with Local Medical Committees further enabling successful outcomes in commissioning.

• To work in partnership with other CCGs, the Health and Wellbeing Board and local authorities to improve outcomes for residents and to maximize efficiencies in commissioning.

CLINICAL COMMISSIONING GROUP

For more information about NHS EastStaffordshire CCG visit:- www.eaststaffsccg.nhs.uk

Write to:-NHS East Staffordshire Clinical

Commissioning GroupEdwin House

Second AvenueCentrum 100

Burton upon TrentStaffordshire

DE14 2WFTel: 01283 507100

Getting Involved with the CCG

One of the first areas we have focused on,alongside business development, is engagement.East Staffordshire CCG aims to communicate andengage with all its stakeholders including patients,carers and the public, commissioning and strategicpartners, provider organisations, the voluntarysector, member GP practices and CCG staff, inorder to provide high quality healthcare whichreflects the needs of the local population. It istherefore vital that we listen to what thecommunity has to say about their healthcareservices.

There are a number of ways that you can supportEast Staffordshire GPs and the ClinicalCommissioning Group to shape local healthcareservices that meet the needs of local people.

The easiest way for individuals to get involved is tojoin the Patient Membership Scheme. Anyone isentitled to join if they are registered with a doctorwithin the East Staffordshire region. The patientmembership scheme is designed to give people andorganisations the opportunity to have more say inthe NHS and actively participate in designing andshaping healthcare services.

East Staffordshire Patient Participation Groups

Consisting of a group of volunteer patients, thePractice Manager and one or more of the GPs froma practice, Patient Participation Groups (PPGs)meet on a regular basis to discuss the services onoffer and how improvements can be made tobenefit all parties.

PPGs help practices to put both the patient andhealthcare at the heart of everything they do.Often the action taken by the PPG’s all depends onthe local needs of individuals in the locality.

In East Staffordshire CCG many of our GPpractices, have both patient participation groupsand virtual patient representation groups. If youwould like to know more about your practicePatient Participation Group and how you canbecome involved, contact your GP Practice directlyfor further details.

CHOOSE WELL

Don’t be a time loser, be a time chooser, and make sureyou get the right treatment, in the right place, at theright time. Your time is a precious thing. Hundreds ofpeople spend hours at Accident and Emergency each weekfor minor illness and ailments when other services wouldhave been more appropriate.

Choose Well – Facts and Figures

• 51.4m GP consultations are for minor ailments alone, which would clear up by themselves, or with a little help from an over-the-counter remedy from a pharmacy, this is 18 percent of the GP workload nearly half of these consultations are generated by people aged 16 – 59 years.

• Up to 40,000 GP visits per year are for dandruff; 20,000 go to their local surgery for travel-sickness and 5.2 million with blocked noses.

• Two million people who go to A&E could either self-careor have been treated elsewhere in the community 12 percent of people admit to having used A&E in the past even when they knew there was nothing seriously wrongwith them.

• The estimated cost of treating people who go to A&E but who could have either self-treated or gone else where, is £136 million a year this is the equivalent cost of 6,500 nurses.

The following pages will provide details of where andwhen to access the right health services in EastStaffordshire and what your choices are.

Choose Well

A&E 999 ACCIDENT AND EmERGENCYOpen 24/7, 365 days a year.The A&E department in East Staffordshireis at: Queens Hospital – Belvedere Road, Burton-upon-Trent, DE13 0RB

The Emergency Department is for ambulance traffic and critical or life-threatening situations only, and you should only go there or call 999 ifimmediate emergency care is needed.

NHS WALk-INCENTRE

Walk-in centres treat minor illnesses andinjuries that don’t need a visit to A&E.

Derby Walk-in CentreLondon Road Community Hospital,Osmaston Road, Derby, DE1 2GDTelephone: 01332 224700Open 8.00—20.00, 7 days a week, 365days a year

mINOR INjURY UNITS

The nearest Minor Injury Unit, for Burton-upon-Trent is at –

Samuel Johnson Community Hospital, Trent Valley Road, Lichfield,

Staffordshire, WS13 6EF Telephone: 01543 412900

The nearest Minor Injury Unit, for Uttoxeter is at:-

Haywood Community Hospital, High Lane, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent,

Staffordshire, ST6 7AG Telephone: 01782 673500

OUT OF HOURS URGENT CARE

If you live in East Staffordshire you should contact Staffordshire

Doctors Urgent Care on 0300 7900 247 / 0300 123 0814

GP GP SURGERY Your local GP surgery provides a range of services including –• General medical advice and treatment for an illness or injury that won’t

go away• Routine health checks – Travel advice – Prescriptions• Help managing long-term medical problems• Immunisations and tests• Referrals to a specialist or a hospital

PHARmACIST PHARmACISTGo to a pharmacist if you have thesymptoms of a cough, cold or thinkyou’ve got the flu. A pharmacist is thebest place to go as they can usuallyprovide you with the help andinformation you need on the spot.

You can speak to any pharmacist for advice on how to treat lots of minor

injuries and common complaints such as coughs, colds, bites, stings, aches and

pains. They also offer help with healthy living issues such as losing weight or

giving up smoking.

NHS 111 NHS 111NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, andis free to call from landlines and mobilesand offers confidential health advice andinformation

Is a new national telephone service if you need medical help fast, but it’s notlife – threatening. NHS 111 provides a new way to ensure people receive theright care, from the right person, in the right time and place.

SELF – CARESELF CAREEnsure your medicine cabinet is well

stocked with• Anti-diarrhoeal medicine• Paracetamol or aspirin• Rehydration mixture• Indigestion mixture• Thermometer• Plasters

Many patients make appointments to see their Doctor or Nurse, when theycould be using a well stocked medicines cabinet or visiting a pharmacist totreat their symptoms – and getting the same help or advice a lot quicker. Selfcare is the very best choice you can make for treating very minor illnesses andinjuries.

CHOOSE WELL

Our GP surgeries, also have trainednurses who can give advice, take tests,diagnose and be able to treat manyillnesses that used to be only dealt withby doctors - making the level of serviceyou can expect from your GP surgeryeven better than ever.

HEALTHY LIVING

The choices we make about how we livecan have a significant effect on ourhealth. Eating a healthy diet, doingregular exercise, not smoking and notdrinking too much alcohol can help youstay well and enjoy a long life.

Keeping fit and healthy can be a challenge if youare living with a long-term condition, but it willmake a big difference to your wellbeing. If you’vebeen thinking about making changes to yourlifestyle, such as stopping smoking, losing weight,eating healthily, drinking a little less alcohol, ordoing more exercise, there’s plenty of help andsupport available.

Talking to your GP and other healthcare workers,including pharmacists, is the first step. They’llhelp you look at your lifestyle and suggest changesthat are suitable for your condition and anytreatment you’re having. Your health or careworker can also let you know about local servicesthat can help you.

For example, if you want to start exercising butyou're unsure how to, your GP can put you on theExercise on Referral scheme. These schemes arerun with local gyms and fitness centres and caninclude swimming. Ask at your GP practice formore information.

Your GP can also help you if you want to stopsmoking, for instance by enrolling you in a clinicwhere you’ll get support from other people whoare also trying to stop. Nicotine replacementtherapy and other stop smoking treatmentsprovided by your GP can also help you resistcravings and boost your chances of quittingsuccessfully.

You're never too young or too old to switch to ahealthier lifestyle. Children who learn healthyhabits at a young age will benefit from themthroughout their life. And giving up bad habits canimprove your health at any age.

Rethink your drinking

Drinking too much alcohol could increase your riskof getting 14 major diseases, including mouth andthroat cancers, liver cirrhosis, strokes and mentalhealth problems.

Alcohol is believed to be responsible for as many as22,000 premature deaths in England and Walesevery year. But it’s not just binge drinkers who areat risk: regularly drinking more than therecommended limit can cause significant healthproblems.

Stop Smoking for good

Giving up smoking is probably the best thing youcan do to improve your health.Research shows that smokingis responsible for almostone in five of alldeaths in the UK. Thismeans that smokingcauses an estimated110,000 deaths a year.

Smokers are almosttwice as likely tohave a heartattack as peoplewho have neversmoked.Smoking alsoincreases yourrisk ofdeveloping manycancers and lungdisease.

Get active, feel fitter, live longer

Whatever your age, there's strong scientificevidence that being physically active can help youlead a healthier and even happier life.

Adults should do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activityeach week. Young people (5-18) should do 60minutes every day.

If you do this, it can reduce your risk of heartdisease and stroke by up to 50% and lower your riskof early death by up to 30%.

CHOOSING A GP

Try to avoid attending A&E for minor complaints

A surgery may refuse an applicationto join its list of patients if:

You don't reside in the surgery area

It has formally closed its list of patients, eg when apractice has more patients than it can deal with or notenough doctors - this is less common than it used to be.

If your application is refused, the surgery must writeto you and give the reasons for this

How do I find a surgery?

Most surgeries operate a fairly strict catchment areasystem, and only those who live within the area maybe able to register.

This isn't to be awkward, but ensures a GP can visit aperson at home in an emergency in reasonable time.

How do I register?

This is straightforward and far easier than most peoplerealise. Simply take your NHS medical card along toyour chosen surgery. You will then be asked to sign aregistration form.

Not all NHS trusts issue medical cards. If you don't haveone, the receptionist will give you form GMS1 to fill in.

Once you've completed and returned the forms, yourlocal NHS will transfer your medical records to yournew surgery and write to you to confirm yourregistration as a patient with the surgery. Manysurgeries ask a new patient to attend a ‘registrationmedical’ that checks your general health.

What if I can’t get an appointment?If you can't get a doctor's appointment or have a non-urgent health problem or query, you can contact anurse by ringing 111 at any time.

Choosing a GP can seem a daunting task, especially if you have just moved into an area and don't know anythingabout the local health services. But there are some easy ways to find the doctor to suit you. It's important tobe registered with a doctor because you'll need them to refer you for specialist hospital and communitytreatment services.

GP Surgery Address Telephone

GP SURGERIES

Your local GP surgery provides a range of services, including general medical advice and treatment forillnesses or injuries that just won’t go away.

Your local GP surgery provides a wide range of family health services, as well as advice on health problemsthey can also help with.

• Vaccinations • Examinations and treatment • Prescriptions for medicines • Referrals to other health services and social services • Screening management of long term conditions preventative care

PHARMACIES

If you have the symptoms of a cough, cold, or think you’ve got the flu a pharmacist isthe best place to go, as they can usually provide you the help and information youneed on the spot.

They can also offer help with healthy living issues such as losing weight or giving upsmoking.

For opening times and NHS SERVICES available from your Pharmacy Please scan the QR code with your smartphone or visit www.nhs.uk

Pharmacy Address Telephone

DENTISTS

Dentists Address Telephone

Emergency Dental ServiceDental Access Centres are available to treat patients who need emergency treatment. This service gives priority topain relief and urgent care. Not all dentists take on NHS patients, you should check before hand.

Emergency Dentist out of hours: 111 • Emergency Dentist normal working hours: 111

Dental charges depend on the treatment you need to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy. Youwill only ever be asked to pay one charge for each complete course of treatment, even if you need tovisit your dentist more than once to finish it. If you are referred to another dentist for another, separate course of treatment, you can expect a second charge. Some minor treatments are free.

NHS dental charges from 1 April 2013

Band 1 course of treatment – £18.00 This covers an examination, diagnosis (eg X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, a scale andpolish if needed, and application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealant. If you require urgent care, even ifyour urgent treatment needs more than one appointment to complete, you will only need to pay one Band 1charge.

Band 2 course of treatment – £49.00This covers everything listed in Band 1 above, plus any further treatment such as fillings, root canal work orif your dentist needs to take out one or more of your teeth.

Band 3 course of treatment – £214.00This covers everything listed in Bands 1 and 2 above, plus crowns, dentures and bridges.

OPTICIANS & HEARING CENTRES

Opticians Address Telephone

Hearing Centres Address Telephone

Regular eye tests are important because your eyes don’t usually hurt when something is wrong. Many eyeconditions can be treated if found early enough. A sight test is a vital health check for your eyes. It can pickup early signs of conditions that can affect the eyes before you’re aware of any symptoms,

Including: Diabetes • macular Degeneration • Glaucoma

ARE YOU A CARER?

A Carer spends a significant proportion of their life providing unpaid support to family or friends. Thiscould be caring for a relative, partner or friend who has a long term illness or disability includingmental illness, alcohol or drug misuse or those that are elderly, forgetful or frail.

Caring can be a very difficult , demanding and all-consuming task, no matter how close you are to theperson you care for.

Caring can affect your health making you feel tired, frustrated, stressed and feeling guilty leaving you withno time to yourself. In fact 52% of carers need treatment for stress related problems and many carers feelthey have to give up work because of the effects caring has on their life.

You are not alone! It is estimated there are around 6.5 million Carers in the UK today. You are certainly notalone, but you still need to take care of yourself as well as the person you care for.

Thankfully, armed with the right support and information caring can be a rewarding and enjoyableexperience. Just follow a few simple tips that can make a real difference.

• Ask for Help: We all need help from time to time and carers are no exception. Help is out there you only need to ask!

• know your rights: It sounds simple, but knowing what you’re entitled to and what support is available can help a great deal.

• Tell your GP: Your GP practice can record that you are a carer to ensure you get your annual flu vaccination and additional support as a carer.

• Have an assessment: This can sound a little daunting at first, but ensuring that you and the person you care for get an assessment of your needs through the Local Authority can give you access to a whole host of additional practical help and support.

• Be a little selfish! We all need time to ourselves, but it’s particularly important for carers. This could be as simple as setting some me time aside for a relaxing bath or a night out.

There are an estimated 80,000 Carers in Staffordshire,help and support is available locallyfrom the Carers Association Southern Staffordshire or Guideposts.

If you’re a carer and you need someone to talk to, contact:

We support unpaid carers of any age in southern Staffordshire, who are lookingafter a friend or relative, who because of disability, illness or the effects of oldage, cannot manage at home without help.

CASS is a registered charity, which provides confidential advice, information andemotional support and a range of other services to Carers living in the districts ofCannock Chase, East Staffs, Lichfield, South Staffs, Stafford and Tamworth. All ofthese services are free of charge.

The Carers Centre • Austin Friars • Stafford • ST17 4APAdvice Line: 01785 606675 • Admin: 01785 222365 • Fax: 01785 220665Email: enquiries@carersinformation.org.ukWebsite: carersinformation.org.uk

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Aids and Adaptations If you or a member of your family has difficultyliving in your home due to a long-term illness ordisability, you may be able to get help by adaptingyour home to better meet your needs. You canapply to your local council for a disabled facilitiesgrant. The grant helps you adapt your home tomake it suitable for a disabled person. Dependingon your income, you may need to pay towards thecost of the work to the property.

You could get a grant from your council if you’redisabled and need to make changes to yourhome, for example to:

• widen doors and install ramps• improve access to rooms and facilities - eg

stairlifts or a downstairs bathroom• provide a heating system suitable for your

needs• adapt heating or lighting controls to make

them easier to use

How can I find out more about the aids andadaptations that would help me?

Contact your social services department at yourlocal council about what difficulties you are havingat home. They will send an occupational therapistto carry out an assessment and provide advice onwhich equipment or housing adaptation needs suityou best.

Assistive Technology can help vulnerable peopleand their carers live more independently in theirown homes.

Telecare which is part of assistive technology, cansupport people whose sight, hearing or cognitionmay have deteriorated. This could be due tophysical or mental conditions which may have along-term effect on their health and wellbeing.

There are many Telecare devices whichautomatically alert a 24-hour monitoring centre oryour chosen carer, should you need assistance.There are also Telehealth solutions which monitormedical conditions in your own home, speak toyour GP to find out more about Telehealth.

Telecare Technology Can:

• Raise an alarm in case of a fall or emergency.• Raise alerts for floods, smoke, carbon

monoxide.• Support a medication regime.• 24-hour reassurance for family and carers in

the knowledge that they will be alertedin the event of an incident.

Telecare may be of benefit to:

• Older, infirm or disabled people• People who have been discharged from

hospital and need additional support at home• People with sensory impairments• Vulnerable people of any age living alone

Telecare also offers support and reassurance tocarers in the knowledge they will be alerted in theevent of an incident. In this way, Telecare can beof assistance to carers of people with dementia,physical disabilities, learning disabilities and long-term medical conditions.

ADVICE ON PAYING FOR CARE

You may need to pay for all of your own care, or youmay be entitled to local authority funding, NHS care(free) or have entitlements to welfare benefits tohelp pay for your care and support.

For most people needing social care services, thefirst place to start is by asking your local authorityfor an assessment of your social care (care andsupport) needs. As part of this, the local authoritymay also carry out a financial assessment. Thisassessment will determine whether the localauthority will meet all the cost of your care, orwhether you will need to contribute towards yourcare cost or whether you will have to meet the fullcosts yourself. Some of the rules for this financialassessment are applied differently based on whetheryou need care in your own home or care in aresidential home.

There are several options for funding care, andunderstanding them, and which ones apply to youcan be complicated. These options depend on yourneed for care and support, as well as your personaland financial circumstances.

Get personal advice on care funding

The cost of care and support is likely to be a long-term commitment and may be substantial,particularly if you opt for residential care. If you ora member of the family need to pay for care athome or in a care home, it’s important tounderstand the alternatives. This makes advicetailored to your individual needs vital. You can get advice from:

Your local authority – through an assessment of yourcare and support needs as well as advice on whichservices are available locally.

Financial advice from a qualified, independentsource – there are independent financial adviserswho specialise in care funding advice. They areregulated by the Financial Conduct Authority andmust stick to a code of conduct and ethics and takeshared responsibility for the suitability of anyproduct they recommend.

Care and support services are means-tested and are not free to everyone. most people have to paysomething towards their own care and some will have to pay for all of the costs. Who pays depends onwhat your needs are, how much money you have, and what level and type of care and support you require.

LEGAL TERMS

Every day people make decisions about lots of things intheir lives. The ability to make decisions is called mentalcapacity. People may have difficulties making somedecisions either all or some of the time. This could bebecause they have a learning disability, dementia, a mentalhealth problem, or could be the result of a head injury or astroke or a temporary condition such as an illness, accidentor the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Listed below are details about some of the legal terms andtopics you may come across. You may need to contact asolicitor who can give you impartial advice which you mayhave to pay for, or you can contact an advocate who canadvise on your behalf.

Lasting Power Of Attorney: allows you to appoint someoneyou trust to make decisions about your personal welfare,including healthcare and your financial affairs.

The Court of Protection: can issue Orders directing themanagement of a person’s property and financial affairs ifyou are incapable of managing your own affairs and do nothave a Lasting Power of Attorney.

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards: protects people inresidential care or hospital who are unable to makedecisions for themselves due to a brain disorder. If any ofthese people need to be restrained, restricted or deprived,in order to give them physical care or keep them safe, aDeprivation of Liberty Safeguards authorisation may berequired.

CARE IN YOUR OWN HOMEIf you are finding it difficult to manage at home you could consider using the services of a home careprovider. Home care providers employ care assistants who can help you with bathing, washing and dressing.The staff who work for these agencies are trained in personal care and safety procedures, moving andhandling, hygiene and infection control. If you require nursing care at home, many agencies employregistered nurses.

This is only one option of supporting yourself with care at home. Another could be to employ a personalassistant.

A list of the care agencies registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), who are located in the EastStaffordshire CCG can be found on the following pages. . Organising your own home care

If you are thinking about arranging your own home care it is a good idea to ask any agencies youapproach the following questions

• Are there different rates for weekends/evenings?• Are there any extra charges i.e. for the carer's travelling expenses?• What sort of services do you provide?• Will somebody visit me before the service starts? • If you provide me with a service, can I contact you out of office hours?

If so, how?• Are your carers trained?• Do you take up references on your carers?• Are you registered with the Care Quality Commission?

To check up-to-date information on the providers of homecare in your locality visit www.cqc.org.uk or scan the QR CODE with your Smartphone.

CARE IN YOUR OWN HOME

Care Agency Address Telephone

NURSING & RESIDENTIAL CAREThere are many types of residential care homes available.These include permanent care homes for older people,homes for younger adults with disabilities and homes forchildren. They may be privately owned or run by thevoluntary sector or local authorities. You may want toconsider in detail the many options for residential carebefore you make a decision.

Older PeopleCare homes for older people may provide personal care ornursing care. A care home which is registered to providepersonal care (see the section on care home regulation,below) will offer support, ensuring that basic personal needs,such as meals, bathing, going to the toilet and medication,are taken care of. In some homes more able residents havegreater independence and take care of many of their ownneeds.

Some residents may need medical care and some care homesare registered to provide this. These are often referred to asnursing homes. Some homes specialise in certain types ofdisability, for example, dementia.

Adults Aged 18-65There are also residential care homes that provide care andsupport for younger adults with, for example, severe physicaldisabilities, learning disabilities, acquired brain injury,progressive neurological conditions or mental healthproblems. Care can be provided for adults with more than

one condition and some homes have expertise in providingcare for adults with alcohol or drug dependency. These homes offer permanent residence or provide care for atemporary period until the adult is able to live independentlyor move to a different type of accommodation.

Choosing between residential care and independent livingSocial services normally encourage younger adults who theyassess for support to be as independent as theircircumstances allow. The care plan for adults with disabilitieswill consider what independent tasks they can carry out andhow they can be helped to achieve more. Even if adults havevery severe disabilities their needs are reviewed from time totime to check whether residential care or a very high level ofsupport is still appropriate.

Supported living may be an option for younger adults. Thisallows people to live independently in the community butwith basic support. The support offered includes help withsetting up a home and managing finances, and assistancewith cleaning and shopping.

For older people there are various alternatives to residentialcare. These include sheltered housing and extra care housingschemes, which offer independence with an increased levelof care and support.

For many people there is also the choice of livingindependently at home with community care support.

NURSING & RESIDENTIAL CARE

Choice of Accommodation

The law says that where the local authority is fundingaccommodation it must allow the person enteringresidential care to choose which care home they wouldprefer. Social services must first agree that the home issuitable for the person’s needs and that it would notcost more than they would normally pay for a homethat would meet those needs. If the person chooses togo into a more expensive home, a relative or friendmay be able to ‘top up’ the difference in cost.

Choosing a Care Home

Care homes may be arranged through the local authority but many people will want to arrange themindependently. It is a good idea to visit several homesbefore making a choice. Make sure you spend enoughtime in each home to get a good idea of what it is like.

Respite and Short Term Stays

Residential care home stays don't necessarily have to bepermanent. Temporary stays can be arranged forrespite care (in which you take a break from caring forsomebody else), or as a trial period before apermanent stay.

Temporary stays can give you flexibility whencovering unexpected events, such as:

• Palliative care (which manages or reduces pain) after a hospital stay or illness

• Support for newly disabled people and their carers

• Enabling someone to continue living independently if they live alone and suddenly require care

• Giving someone a chance to try potential future homes

What your choices are:

A list of all nursing and residential care homes withinyour locality can be found on the following pages. Everycare home in England must be registered with thenational regulatory body Care Quality Commission(CQC).

They inspect each care home on a regular basis andwrite an inspection report for you to read. It isadvisable to read this report before making a finaldecision.

RESIDENTIAL & NURSING

Residential Address Telephone

To check up-to-date information on the Nursing and Residential care homes within your locality visit www.cqc.org.uk or scan the

QR CODE WITH YOUR SmARTPHONE

RESIDENTIAL & NURSING

Nursing Address Telephone

HELP & ADVICEServices offered include• Information and Advice Service• Lunch Club – every Wednesday. Covers Burton-upon-Trent (Only)

Age Uk BurtonVoluntary Services Centre, Union Street Car Park, Burton-on-Trent,Staffordshire, DE14 1AATel: 01283 510106

Services offered include• Information and Advice Service• Benefits SupportCovers all of East Staffordshire except Burton-upon-Trent.

Age Uk South Staffordshire, Penkridge Resource Centre, The Roller mill,

Teddesley Road, Penkridge, Stafford, ST19 5BD or Age Uk South Staffordshire,

Uttoxeter, Uttoxeter Resource Centre, Holly Road, Uttoxeter, ST14 7DX

Tel: 01785 788 477 or 01785 788 499

Providing information and support to people with dementia and theircarers/families across Staffordshire• Community Support• Day Centres• Dementia Cafes

Staffordshire Local Service Office, 8-9 Windsor Court, Trent Valley Road, Lichfield, WS13 6EUTel: 01543 255 955

Helping people with a learning disability to speak up and make decisions about what is important to themLines are open 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday

0808 808 1111

Call the Carers Direct helpline if you need help with your caring role and want totalk to someone about what options are available to you. If you are busy at certaintimes of day, you can send us a message to ask us to call you back for free at atime that is convenient to you.

This service is available for people living in or caring for someone in England. Linesare open 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday (except bank holidays) 11am to 4pm atweekends. Calls are free from UK landlines and mobiles or you can request a freecall back. Call Carers Direct on 0808 802 0202

Free, confidential, impartial and independent advice.We can offer help with a range of problems, including debt, benefits, housing,employment, consumer, relationships and discrimination

East Staffordshire Citizens Advice Bureau, Suite 8, Anson Court, HorninglowStreet, Burton-upon-Trent, DE14 1NGTel: 01283 566722 or 0844 4111 444

Have your say on Health and Social Care. Healthwatch StaffordshireTel: 0800 051 8371 • Website: www.healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk Email: enquiries@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk

The South Staffordshire Network for Mental Health is a charity within mentalhealth to champion service user involvement and to ensure that people withexperience of mental illness have a say in how local services are developed anddelivered. They provide up to date and useful information on local services andprojects, signposting to services helpful to an individual. They also provide avolunteer programme, helping people to make a difference within theircommunity, and challenge stigma and discrimination of people with experience ofmental illness. Individuals can join for free to receive SSN Mental Healthnewsletter by post or email four times a year.

South Staffordshire Network for mental Healthmansell House, 22 Bore Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LLTel: 01543 301139Website: www.ssnmentalhealth.co.ukEmail: sunetwork@ssnmentalthealth.co.ukFacebook: www.facebook.com/ssnmentalhealth • Twitter: @ssnmentalhealth

The MS Society is the UK’s leading MS charity, who provides information and support to people with Multiple Sclerosis

Free mS HelplineThe helpline provides support to anyone affected by MS in the UK. Lines are open 9am – 9pm Monday – Friday 0808 800 8000

m.S Society – Burton-upon-Trent Branch, Burton-upon-TrentTelephone: 01283 812945 • Website: www.mssociety.org.uk/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mSSociety • Twitter: @mssocietyuk

East Staffordshire Community & Voluntary Services offers information, advice andsupport to community and voluntary groups across the East Staffordshire district.

East Staffordshire Community & Voluntary ServicesVoluntary Services Centre, Union Street, Burton-upon-Trent, DE14 1AATel: 01283 543414 • Website: www.escvs-news.org.uk/

East Staffordshire Rights & Equality Council (ESREC) is a voluntary organisationwhich works towards the elimination of discrimination through the promotion ofequal opportunities and good relations, between people of different backgrounds.ESREC is a registered charity providing a service to victims of protectedcharacteristics, primarily in East Staffordshire and surrounding areas.

East Staffordshire Rights / Racial Equality Council (ESREC)Voluntary Services Centre, Union Street, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1AATel: 01283 510456 • Website: www.eaststaffsrec.org.uk

The Staffordshire Neurological Alliance exists to provide a united voice for thoseaffected by any of the 80 or so neurological conditions and address the widedisparity in provision across the county.

Staffordshire Neurological Alliance4 Bracken View, Brocton, Stafford, ST17 0TFWebsite: www.staffsneurologicalalliance.org.uk/

The Stroke Association is there to provide information, advice and support forpeople with strokes and their carers. This service is available for all individualswho live throughout East Staffordshire (Burton-upon-Trent, Uttoxeter etc) TheNational Stroke Hotline provides help and support to anyone affected by strokes inthe UK. Lines are open 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday. 0303 3033 100 / 0845 3033 100

Stroke Association – Burton and District Stroke ClubHenhurst Wood, Henhurst Hill, Burton-upon-Trent, DE13 9TBWebsite: www.stroke.org.uk/support/burton-district-stroke-club

yourvoicecount

Making