Being healthy

Your local doctor (GP surgery) will usually be the first contact if you have a health problem. They can treat many conditions and give health advice. They can also refer you to other NHS services.

You can register for free with a Doctor/GP usually your most local one which gives access to NHS services.

You do not need proof of address or immigration status, identification (ID) or an NHS number.

If you are feeling ill or have a health worry, you might not need to see a doctor and your local chemist or pharmacy can help.

Pharmacists are experts in medicines who can help you with minor health concerns, such as:

• coughs
• colds
• sore throats
• tummy trouble
• aches and pains

Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.

It is important to have regular check-ups with a dentist. Detecting problems with your teeth and gums early can mean they are easier to treat.

You can find a dental surgery that's convenient for you.

Some people may not be able to get to their local dental practice because of a disability or medical condition. In this case, the dentist should refer you to a more specialised dental service. Ask your dentist or GP what is needed for a referral and if it is suitable in your case.

Thames Valley Community Dental Service provide specialist dental support to children and adults in Buckinghamshire.

They can offer dental treatment for adult and child patients who may have:

• a learning disability
• a physical disability
• a dental phobia
• are medically compromised

If you are under 18 you can have a free NHS sight test. As an adult, you may be able to access a free test and an optical voucher towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses. This depends on your age and/or any benefits you or your family receive.

When you visit an optician for an eye test, they will look at your eyes and ask you what you can see to check whether you need glasses. They also can see other issues with your eyes which may need treatment to stop the loss of sight such as cataracts or glaucoma.

Ophthalmic practitioners and optometrists prescribe and fit glasses and contact lenses. If necessary, they'll refer you to a GP or a hospital eye clinic for further investigations. In Buckinghamshire, the hospital service is Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust Ophthalmology.

You can get a free hearing test on the NHS. A GP may refer you to a hearing specialist (audiologist) who can do the test.

It could take a few weeks to see a specialist so it might be quicker to get tested somewhere else, like at a large chemist/pharmacy or opticians. This is often free.

You should see your GP first if:

• you also have other symptoms, like earache or discharge – this could be something treatable like an earwax build-up or ear infection
• you have sudden hearing loss in one ear
• you are worried about your hearing
• sensory disabilities (or sensory impairment) affect one or more of the senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste or spatial awareness.

Buckinghamshire Integrated Sensory Service (BISS) provides free advice and support to adults and children with sensory disabilities across Buckinghamshire.

The Sexual Health service in Buckinghamshire is an all-age service. They can provide contraception and support in relation to sexual health and have clinics in Aylesbury, High Wycombe.

They run drop-in clinics for Under 21s. These run on:

• Wednesday afternoons in Aylesbury
• Tuesday afternoons in Wycombe

Here4YOUth, Buckinghamshire offers advice, support and guidance on drug and alcohol use. They can also signpost to other support services for other wellbeing needs. Their focus is on improving your well-being and keeping you healthy, happy and safe.

They run drop-in sessions:

• Aylesbury: The Uptown Coffee Bar, Whitehill Lane, Aylesbury HP19 8FL Tuesdays 3pm to 5pm. Partners: Youth Concern
• High Wycombe: The Junction at the Library, 5 Eden Place, High Wycombe HP11 2DH. Tuesdays 4pm to 6.30pm. Partners: Action4Youth

You can also call to arrange to meet a worker at a location of your choice. Our workers will focus on you, improving your well-being and keeping you healthy, happy and safe.

If you are over 18 One Recovery Bucks provide a confidential, free and easy-to-access service to anyone living in Buckinghamshire affected by their own or someone else’s use of alcohol and drugs.

Be Healthy Bucks is a free health and well-being service to help you make simple changes, to start feeling the benefits of a healthy life today. You just have to be a Buckinghamshire resident and/or registered with a GP practice in the county.

They can help with health and well-being such as stopping smoking, being a healthier weight, and cutting down on alcohol.

Prevention Matters can support you to regain your confidence and independence and help you to get out and about.

Please note, that if you have a care package in place then you are not eligible for this service.

Your GP/Doctor may suggest that you speak to a social prescriber. A social prescriber works with GPs and health professionals in your local surgery. They help to:

• connect people with a range of non-medical services and activities
• find support, services and activities such as classes or support groups that are tailored to your needs

Further information on health and wellbeing is available on Care and Advice Bucks.

The Bucks CAMHS website contains a range of resources and good advice about mental health.

Children and young people under 18 can get support for their mental health from Buckinghamshire CAMHS.

CAMHS helps children and young people who are finding it hard to cope with everyday life because of difficult feelings, behaviour or relationships.

Buckinghamshire Youth Services offers courses and youth drop-ins to provide help and support for young people.

NHS Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies offer a range of free, tried and tested NHS psychological therapies that help anyone over 18 years with:

• low mood
• anxiety
• worry
• stress
• long-term health conditions
• employment support

You can refer yourself to the service by:

• phone 01865 901 600 (open Monday to Thursday 7am to 6:30pm and Friday 7am to 5pm)
• text talk your name to 07798 667 169
• through your GP or health professional
• self-refer online

If you need to speak to someone outside of NHS Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies' opening hours please contact:

• Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health Helpline on NHS 111
• Your GP or their out-of-hours service
• Samaritans 116 123

If the emergency is life-threatening:

• Call 999

Further information on services to support adults struggling with their with mental health can be found at Mental Health | Care Advice Buckinghamshire

Staying healthy and well is important to us all. But, it can be especially challenging if you are living with a serious mental illness, such as:

• schizophrenia
• bipolar disorder
• psychosis

You may be at greater risk of serious physical health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, or stroke. These can have a huge impact on quality of life and may even shorten it, particularly if they are not picked up in good time.

Anyone aged 18 or over can have a free annual physical health check with their GP practice once a year if they have:

• schizophrenia
• bipolar disorder
• psychosis

These checks can help you stay healthy and spot the warning signs of serious health concerns earlier.

By identifying your risks early, you can do more to stay healthy and well for longer. Staying physically healthy can also have a positive effect on our general mental health.

The physical health check will look at factors like:

• height
• weight
• blood pressure
• signs of conditions like diabetes or high cholesterol levels.

Arranging a check is simple. Contact your GP practice for more information and advice.

If you are anxious about seeing a doctor or nurse, let your GP practice know when you arrange the appointment so they can support you with your concerns.

Your appointment will take about 45 minutes. Before you have the health check and any tests, the doctor or nurse will check you are happy to go ahead.

The doctor or nurse will usually:

• do a physical check-up, including weight, heart rate and blood pressure
• ask you to pee in a small pot so they can check it for signs of some health problems
• ask you to have a blood test
• talk to you about staying well and ask if you need any help with this
• talk to you about your medicines and ask if you have any side effects
• check if your vaccinations are up to date
• check how you are coping if you have a condition such as asthma or diabetes

They will also ask if you are OK (give your consent) to share your health information with other health services, such as your mental health team. This is to make sure you get the right support if you need further care.

And if you care for someone – a loved one or family member – who lives with serious mental illness, please encourage them to arrange a health check too.

The learning disabilities register is for anyone with a learning disability, including mild learning disabilities. You can be of any age and have any level of learning disability to join the register and get extra support.

• Support to improve relationships with your GP
• To get extra support when you visit your GP, and for making appointments
• Staff at your GP surgery will make sure that the information you’re given is clear and easy to understand
• To get a Free Annual Health Check when you are 14 and over
• To have a Free annual flu vaccination

Speak to your GP practice to check if you are on the register. The register is for anyone with a learning disability, including mild learning disabilities. Children with learning disabilities can also join the register.

If you are not on your GP’s learning disability register, staff at the GP practice can add your name for you. You will need to make an appointment to tell your doctor that you have a learning disability.

It is a good idea for children to join the learning disability register at a young age. Joining ensures that adjustments and support are in place before they start using adult services.

Find videos and easy-read guides for young people and their parents or carers on Mencap's website. Everything you need to know about the learning disability register | Mencap

And if you care for someone – a loved one or family member – who lives with serious mental illness, please encourage them to arrange a health check too.

If you are over 14, with a learning disability, or on the learning disability register you should receive an annual health check.

It is important that everyone over the age of 14 with a learning disability has an annual health check.

Having your annual health check every year, even if you are well, helps you to become confident with the process.

Please contact your GP to make sure that you are on their disability register.

Getting an Annual Health Check is important because it helps you to be happy and healthy.

An annual health check can help:

• improve your health by spotting problems earlier
• get better treatment, for example, new medication
• you to talk to your doctor about anything worrying you
• get advice on lifestyle, such as your diet and exercise
• you be in more control of your health and your body
• you to feel more comfortable getting support when you are unwell or in an emergency at other times

An Annual Health Check normally lasts for up to one hour. You can bring someone with you to the appointment. During the check, the doctor or nurse will:

• check your body, for example, weight, heart, and blood pressure take blood and wee samples (if you are happy to)
• talk about your medicines and your life. For example, they might ask about what food you eat, and how you feel

Find videos and easy-read guides for young people and their parents or carers on Mencap's website. Don’t Miss Out – Annual Health Checks Mencap- external site

This social story reads aloud to you explaining the process and what reasonable adjustments could be made for you at your check. Annual health check ‒ easy read story with audio- external site

Remember:

• you can take your time
• you don’t have to do anything you do not want to do
• the practice can support you with reasonable adjustments when having your health check

If you care for someone – a loved one or family member – who has a learning disability, ask your GP to add them to the register. Please also encourage them to attend a health check too.

Watch a video about reasonable adjustments and how they can help you on YouTube.

When you have an additional need, there might be some parts of your physical health that are out of your control. But, there are lots of other things you can do to achieve a healthy lifestyle, including:

• becoming fitter, stronger or more flexible
• maintaining a good sleep routine
• maintaining a balanced diet
• cutting down unhealthy habits such as smoking
• practicing good personal hygiene
• taking your recommended medication

If you can, exercise and do some physical activity every day.

You'll feel better physically and your brain will release feel-good chemicals called endorphins. This means your energy levels will go up and you will be happier.

Managing your physical health can also help improve your mental health as the two are closely linked.

Fitness clubs, gyms, and walking are all great ways to get active and stay healthy.

These 8 practical tips from the NHS cover the basics of healthy eating and can help you make healthier choices.

The service sees children and young people from birth to age 19 who live in Buckinghamshire or have a Buckinghamshire GP. We offer information, training, advice, assessment, and therapy.

They offer speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy to support you if you have the following needs:

• speech, language and communication needs and feeding and swallowing difficulties
• occupational performance needs that impact upon your daily participation in activities
• difficulties with movement which impact on your physical development, activity and ability to participate in play, learning and socialising

For physical health needs in adulthood, you may need to continue to see a health worker such as a nurse, therapist or consultant or may only need to see one as and when a need arises.

Most physical health services in Buckinghamshire for children and young people and adults are provided by Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (buckshealthcare.nhs.uk).

If you need to see a specialist as an adult speak to your GP surgery who will refer you to the right team to support your needs.

If you have continuing care support as a child/young person, this will be reviewed before your 18th birthday to ensure you still meet the criteria for support.

If you no longer need support from the Continuing Healthcare team, you will be referred to Buckinghamshire Council Social Care for assessment.

Your therapist will talk to you about moving on from children's services. They will provide advice about when you need to seek support and how to get support.

The Speech and Language Therapy for Adults Service can support your concerns with swallowing (dysphagia) and other long-term conditions.

The Adult Physiotherapy Service helps patients affected by injury, illness or disability to regain movement and restore mobility.

Equipment to help independence and care is provided by NRS in Buckinghamshire. Equipment that has been provided for you to use at home to support independence and care will continue to be provided unless you outgrow it or no longer need it.

The adult Occupational Therapy Service can provide assessment and advice for equipment and home adaptations.

Continence advice for children and young people under 18 years is available through the School Nursing or Community Nurses for Children with a Learning Disability.

For adults this service is provided by Continence Service - Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.

If you are under 16 and need to stay in hospital, you will most likely stay on a children’s ward. Once you are 16 you will usually need to stay on an adult ward.

If you are under Paediatrics open door policy at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust your access may be extended past 16 years of age in certain circumstances. This is on an individual basis and you will be made aware if this applies to you.

The learning disability liaison team at Stoke Mandeville Hospital help adult patients with learning disabilities and autism, and their carers, to access high-quality care and have a positive experience in the hospital. They will help you to feel supported and in control over choices relating to your care.

The learning disability nurses provide support with emergency admissions, outpatient appointments and inpatient stays. They also help when you leave the hospital, and support families and carers throughout the patient journey.

They do this by:

• making patient letters and leaflets easy to read and understand
• improving the use of patient health passports; a document which helps you to communicate your likes and dislikes
• involving carers and families in the care planning process
• training and supporting our hospital staff to help understand your needs

A hospital passport provides important information about your learning disability and/or autism. This can include any medical conditions, medication, personal details, communication information and care and support requirements.

Some Buckinghamshire health services use a programme called Ready Steady Go Hello. The programme is for people with long-term health conditions and provides help and support to address any concerns you have.

Your GP and specialist teams should talk about your transition to adult services and how to:

• manage your condition
• learn about your treatment
• gain the confidence to ask questions and be involved in decisions about your care
• know when to get help and who to contact in an emergency
• stay informed about any support networks available

Some other services will arrange one or more appointments where your new health worker attends alongside your current one so that you can meet them and they can be clear about your needs and plans.

You may not always need to move into an adult service and this will be discussed with you before you leave a service but you can always refer to your GP later if you have any concerns.