Self Referrals and Local Services

If you are a child, or worried about a child, who may have symptoms of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) or autism (autistic spectrum disorder), you should contact the school, as they are able to make a referral if needed.

Support for Parents and Carers of Children with ADHD or Suspected ADHD

Nurturing ADHD kids is a free 6 week course offering support for all parents and carers of children who have ADHD or suspected ADHD. It is run by Birmingham Resilience Education and Wellbeing Service (BREWS) CIC at St Francis Community Centre in Bournville.

For more information, visit the BREWS CIC website, phone 0731 116 7485 or email contactus@brewseducation.org.

If you are an adult and worried you may have symptoms of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) or autism (autistic spectrum disorder), you can request a GP appointment via our website or contact Reception on 0121 628 2345. During the consultation, you will be asked about your symptoms, and may be sent a questionnaire to complete afterwards. If your answers fulfil the referral criteria, you may then wish to be referred for an ADHD or autism assessment.

Unfortunately, the waiting time for an appointment with the NHS ADHD or autism assessment services can be very long. However, there are a range of approved alternative providers who offer ADHD or autism assessment on behalf of the NHS, who may offer appointments sooner than the NHS assessment services. You have the ‘Right to Choose’ one of these service provider if you wish, and your assessment would still be free of charge.

For information on the range of approved ADHD assessment services, visit ADHD UK. You can find autism assessment providers via the National Autistic Society Autism Services Directory by entering your postcode and searching for ‘diagnosticians’. You will need to contact a provider individually to find out if they are approved to provide an assessment on behalf of the NHS, and can offer the ‘Right to Choose’. Once you have chosen your preferred provider, let Reception know so your GP can refer you.

If you are a child, or worried about a child, who may have symptoms of ADHD or autism, you should contact the school, as they are best able to make a referral if needed.

Cruse Bereavement Support

A charity which offers bereavement support, advice and information. You can visit their website, or phone their helpline on 0808 808 1677.

Bereavement Support at Wychall Lane Surgery

Our Social Prescribing Link Worker, Kiah Ferrell, offers bereavement support. Contact Reception on 0121 628 2345 to book a face-to-face or telephone appointment.

Your COVID Recovery – helping patients to understand what to expect as part of their recovery from COVID-19

Your COVID Recovery is an NHS website designed to help people recover from the long-term effects of COVID-19 and support them to manage their recovery. It has information from rehabilitation experts about how to manage ongoing symptoms and health needs at home, and signposts to sources of support. A significant proportion of post COVID-19 patients are likely to have ongoing health problems. How quickly somebody recovers and the problems they have is likely to vary, and this website can help to answer some questions for patients.

Website: Your COVID Recovery 

Diabetes UK Helpline

A dedicated, confidential diabetes helpline for all patients with diabetes, their family or friends, and patients who are worried they might be at risk. Highly trained advisors offer counselling skills and an extensive knowledge of diabetes. They can provide information about the condition, take the time to talk things through and explore emotional, social, psychological or practical difficulties. Phone 0345 123 2399 or email helpline@diabetes.org.uk or for more information, visit the Diabetes UK website.

Cuppa Squad

Aimed at patients with long-term health conditions such as diabetes, Cuppa Squad aim to make living with these conditions easier to understand, more manageable and much less daunting. They provide free health advice, encouragement and friendly support, and offer simple but effective health tips to help everyone feel happier.

You can find out more by visiting the Cuppa Squad website.

Alternatively, you can phone them on 0300 4 66 66 66, or email hello@cuppasquad.org

Earwax is normally present inside the ear canals, and provides an important protective function. It usually falls out naturally, but can sometimes build up and block the ear, causing symptoms such as hearing loss, earache, a feeling of blocked ears, ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus) or vertigo (feeling dizzy and sick).

Earwax blockage can be treated with an olive oil spray (e.g. Earol) or olive drops once or twice daily for a week, which can be purchased from a pharmacy or online.

If the ears remain blocked after using olive oil, the next step is to consider ear wax removal via ear syringing or microsuction. Private appointments for ear wax removal are widely available, with prices usually ranging from £35-60:

Boots Hearing care
Ear Wax Clinic 
TEL: 0808 302 2351
Ear Wax Specialist 
TEL: 0121 369 0780
Kings Pharmacy, Cotteridge
TEL: 0121 433 3072
Specsavers

Aston University offers a FREE ear wax removal service at Aston Hearing Clinic, provided by students under the close supervision of experienced practitioners. To book, email m.whitehouse@aston.ac.uk

Aquarius is a unique charity based in the West Midlands that has over 40 years’ experience supporting individuals, families, organisations and communities to overcome the physical, emotional and psychological harms caused by alcohol, drugs and gambling.

Patient can self refer using the phone number 0300 456 4293.

Thrive into Work is a service that offers one-to-one job finding support for adults who have problems finding or staying in work due to physical or mental health problems. Eligible health problems include neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), even if these are self-diagnosed. It is provided by Shaw Trust.

If you think this service might be helpful, you can self-refer.

Keeping your nails trimmed is an important part of keeping your feet comfortable, and yourself fit and healthy – comfortable feet will help you to:

Take the exercise you need
Get around the house and reduce the risk of falling
Keep an active social life with friends and family and avoid isolation

Visit Birmingham Nail Care and enter your address or postcode to select from a list of local providers. These and a selection of other local providers include:

Amanda’s Mobile Nail Care – 07985 101127
Browns Pharmacy, Hawksley – 0121 458 6172
Cotteridge Pharmacy, Kings Norton – 0121 458 1275
Happy Feet – 07878 746544
TCT Mobile Foot Therapy – 07828 251509

Physiotherapy self referral is a system which allows you to refer yourself to a physiotherapist without having to see a doctor first.

Please download and complete the self referral form and hand it to the reception desk at The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Physiotherapy Department or post it to the address shown below. Please complete the form fully, giving as much information as possible.

Safe and well visits are only available for non-business properties in the West Midlands areas.

patient/relative can free phone 0800 389 5525.

Difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep can cause health problems such as low mood, irritability and difficulty concentrating, and can even affect relationships and social life if sleep problems are longer-term.

Good sleep habits, such as going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, (sometimes called ‘sleep hygiene’) can help improve sleep. Practicing mindfulness or self-help CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) techniques can also aid sleep by lifting your mood, easing anxiety and helping you manage stress.

For help, advice and more information, visit Every Mind Matters, an NHS website offering mental health support.

Sometimes, the answer to improving an individual’s physical and mental health or wellbeing lies not in a medical prescription, but in ensuring they have company, interests or changes of scene to make them feel connected, motivated and purposeful. Our Social Prescribing Link Worker, Kiah Ferrell, can offer support in a wide range of areas.
To book a face-to-face or telephone Social Prescribing appointment, please contact Reception on 0121 628 2345.

TWR provides an alternative approach to taking control of our own health and well-being. It is a virtual bridge across “The Information Chasm” that connects support services to the recipient almost instantly.

TWR is an online resource library of information and support that can be navigated with minimum difficulty. In addition, the ongoing management of the process is relatively small but engagement can be realised at high levels and monitored effectively.

There are many resources online with information and support on losing weight and being more healthy. The NHS Change4life programme has lots of ideas to help families become healthier, including:

Food Facts
Recipes
Activities

The NHS weight loss plan can help you lose weight safely, and there are many healthy eating diets to choose from. The online plan provides you with the information, help and support needed to lose weight and keep it off. Includes interactive food and activity diary, calorie tracker, progress monitoring and formulas well as personal support from an expert.

You can download apps and tools to help you manage and improve your health, and track your fitness. Some examples are:

• Active 10 walking tracker
• Couch to 5k

Website: Adult Weight Management

The Salus Sanctuary

We provide support and education to people affected by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and other fatigue related conditions. We extend our support to families, friends, carers and education to health professionals giving a simple fast referral pathway.

Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Change, Grow, Live (CGL) is Birmingham’s Drug and Alcohol Service. They offer support, advice and information if you are having problems with drinking or problems with drugs. They help you to regain control of your life and reach your goals, and empower you to create a happier, healthier life.

CGL is based at a number of hubs across the city. The South Hub closest to Wychall Lane Surgery, which you can visit on 9am to 5pm on weekdays. Alternatively, you can contact CGL on 0121 227 5890 or email birmingham.info@cgl.org.uk

Visit the Change, Grow, Live website for more information.

If you have any of the following eye problems, you can self-refer to a local optician:

Red eyes or eyelids
Dryness, grittiness or discomfort
Irritation or inflammation
Discharge or watering
Recent flashes or floaters
In-growing eyelashes
Recent or sudden loss of vision
Foreign body in the eye

A clinic for women (18 years +) who have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) is open at:
Summerfield Primary Care Centre,
Heath Street,
Birmingham,
B18 7AL

A range of support and care is delivered by an all-female team, including:

• Physical assessments and treatment
• Emotional support and counselling
• General information

You may qualify for Healthy Start vouchers if you’re at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four years old. Your family
must also receive one of the following:

Income Support
Income- Based on Job Seekers Allowance
Income- Related Employment and Support Allowance
Child Tax Credit
Universal Credit

You also qualify if you are under 18 and pregnant, even if you don’t get any of the above benefits.

Tel: 0345 607 6823

The Pharmacy First scheme offers treatment for seven common health conditions directly from your local pharmacy. It allows community pharmacists to supply prescription-only medicines, including antibiotics and antivirals, to treat certain conditions without the need for you to visit a GP. These are:

Sinusitis – age 12+
Sore throat – age 5+
Earache – age 1-17
Infected insect bite – age 1+
Impetigo (a bacterial skin infection) – age 1+
Shingles – age 18+
Uncomplicated urinary tract infections – women, age 16-64

Most local pharmacies offer this service – simply visit a participating pharmacy or contact them virtually. Our Reception team will also direct suitable patients to a local pharmacy.

For more information on the Pharmacy First scheme and to find a local pharmacy, visit the NHS website or visit NHS Birmingham and Solihull.

If you have a positive pregnancy test you can now make your own online self-referral for your maternity care, without needing to see a doctor or nurse at the practice.

Our practice is now registered and listed on the online referral portal, so all you need to do to refer for your maternity care is visit the secure link below and provide the information requested. You’ll need your NHS number and the name of the practice, with which you must be registered.

https://www.badgernotes.net/SelfReferral/CareLocation/BUMP – it’s quick and easy and will just take a few minutes. This link can also be used to refer a pregnancy on behalf of someone else, providing you have her consent.

If you want to stop smoking, there’s plenty of help available, including support and pharmacological treatments from local pharmacies.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer this service at Wychall Lane Surgery at present, but you can get help to quit smoking at NHS Better Health and find a local Stop Smoking Service.

A ‘Just Can’t Wait’ toilet card will give you access to toilets not normally available to the general public, and is widely accepted in shops, restaurants, entertainment venues and other businesses.

A number of physical and digital card designs are available from:

Bladder & Bowel Community
Bladder & Bowel UK
Crohn’s & Colitis UK
Macmillan Cancer Support

Do I qualify for a wheelchair assessment from Birmingham Wheelchair Service?

Do I have a Birmingham GP?
Do I need a wheelchair for more than 6 months?
Will I use the wheelchair 5 times a week or more, for an hour or more at a time?
Do I have a medical condition which affects my ability to walk in the home or outdoors?

If you answer yes to all of the above questions you should complete a referral form and send it to the service.