You have access to a wide range of information, support and services that you can access without a referral from a member of the primary care team. All of these can be found on the NottsHelpYourself website, but we have included a selection of the most asked about services here on this page.
A lot of health information can be found by using the NHS 111 online service and the NHS Health A to Z guides.
Alcohol and drug concerns – Nottingham Recovery Network
The Nottingham Recovery Network is here to provide free information, advice and treatment to anybody in Nottingham City who is concerned about the impact alcohol is having on them or somebody else they know.
For adults in Nottingham city, regardless of the severity of their alcohol problems, Nottingham Recovery Network offers confidential and practical advice and delivers a range of local alcohol services.
Macmillan Information and Support Centre
The Nottingham Macmillan Information and Support Service, based at Nottingham City Hospital and QMC, provides a free and confidential drop-in service for anyone affected by cancer. The service is staffed by a Macmillan Cancer Information Specialist and Officer and a team of Macmillan volunteers who can provide information and support at any stage of a cancer journey,
Children and Families Direct
Children and Families Direct is the easy way to access family support and safeguarding services within Nottingham City.
There are many services available to support children and families. Nottingham City Council’s ‘one stop shop’ means you can access all of them using just one telephone number or email address.
By making it simple to access their services Nottingham City Council can help provide the right support, at the right time, to meet the needs of Nottingham families.
Counselling & Talking Therapies
Nottinghamshire Talking therapies is a free and confidential NHS service designed to help with common mental health problems such as stress, anxiety and depression. Anyone aged 18 years or over and registered with a GP can access support, though a GP referral is not necessary as you can self-refer.
Counselling for young people – Base 51
Base 51 is a charity that supports young people aged 11-25 in Nottingham and the surrounding areas. They started in 1993 initially in response to the lack of sexual health provision for young people, and the recognition that young peoples’ wellbeing is more than just addressing their physical health needs, but is about their whole person. This includes their emotional health, having settled accommodation, healthy relationships and ultimately making a positive transition to adulthood.
They are bases in NGY Myplace centre which provides a range of services and facilities from a fitness suite and recording studio, to counselling and health services.
Health Visiting Services (0 to 5 years) – CityCare
The service will accept patients aged 0-5 years old registered with a Nottingham GP or that are resident in Nottingham City.
Tel: 0115 883 8900 – Select option 4
The service is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm (excluding Bank Holidays).
Midwifery Services – CityCare
Nottingham has various midwifery locations around the city.
We recommend that you make an appointment with the midwifery team (covering the GP surgery you are registered with) as early as possible in your pregnancy so that your booking appointment is carried out before you are 10 weeks pregnant for the best outcomes for you and your child.
Tel: 0115 883 3368
Pain – information about chronic pain
Many people have chronic pain. We have included some really useful information here that we would strongly encourage anyone with chronic (lasting longer than three months) to have a look at.
Find out more
Many people with pain will need to accept that this is a condition they have to live with long-term. In fact acceptance, and no longer searching for ‘the fix or cure’, is an important part of controlling your pain.
Acceptance helps reduce pain’s nasty effects on your life and health. Everyone creates their own toolbox for managing their own pain. Like a gymnast, cyclist or athlete who hones their skills to get the most from them, you can learn how to make the most of the skills you already have for managing your pain. You may learn new ones to add into the ones you’ve got.
Some people become so good at managing their pain that it fades completely into the background for much of the time. Everyone is different so the right self-management plan will vary from person to person. This could involve understanding more about the way pain works – for example the fact that fear, uncertainty about causes, past experiences (including traumatic childhood events) tiredness, your genes and many other things ALL effect the way the pain system behaves now.
It could involve learning how to do things differently (acceptance, pacing, positive focusing skills). It is also about learning about helpful treatments and medicines, as well as thinking and reacting differently to the pain and life events in general. It helps to explore ways to build fitness gently, balance activities with patience and set enjoyable goals or hobbies and plans.
Support to build a self management plan may be found in different places from sports centres to local community health group activities. Check with your GP or practice team what support is there in your area. There is more than you think … and it’s fun too!
It’s also worth knowing that opioids (‘strong painkillers’) can be really useful for a short time – after an injury or surgery. But longer term they aren’t much help. They only reduce pain for about 20 percent of people in the long term. So out of every 100 people, 80 get no benefit long term. And they’ll still get the side effects.
Physio and Occupational Therapy
This service is for people with bone, muscle or joint problems, such as back pain, whiplash injuries, arthritis, sprains, strains and sports injuries.
If you have a musculoskeletal injury, our Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Rehabilitation and Exercise Practitioners will work with you to help you recover as quickly as possible.
If you have a long-term musculoskeletal condition, our aim will be to keep you as strong, fit and active as possible in spite of the problem.
Podiatry – footcare services
If you are registered with a Nottingham City GP and are eligible for podiatry services, you can access the community podiatry service through referral by your GP practice or self-referral.
The service is to help people with diseases and conditions affecting the feet and lower limbs. This is also to help patients manage their conditions through treatment, prevention and education.
Unfortunately, patients who have low / no medical need and minor foot conditions, such as requiring nail care or treatment for corns and callus, will no longer have access to the NHS funded service.
Sexual Health Services
Sexual Health Services in Nottingham help people with contraception and concerns about sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Their services are not confined to our hospitals. They also run community clinics across Nottingham.
The service is open access, which means you do not need to be seen by anyone else before attending, you can self-refer. All you need is an appointment.
- Sexual health clinics
- Under 25’s
- Contraception
- Sexual Infections (STIs)
- Pregnancy choices
- Sexuality and counselling
Social Care for Adults
Nottingham City Council provide a range of services for adults and their carers, all of which can be access by self referral and do not require an appointment with a member of the primary care team first.
Tel: 0300 131 0300
(Lines are open 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.
For enquiries outside of these hours, please use the Emergency Duty Team number 0115 876 1000)
Email: [email protected]
- Adult safeguarding
- Specialist teams
- Social workers
- Occupational therapy
- Home and day care
- Meals at home
- Care homes
- Carers support
- Adaptations
Stop Smoking – StubIt
If you’re a patient registered at a GP practice in Nottingham city, you can now access a new 12-week stop smoking programme called Stub It! Throughout the programme, you’ll be entitled to a series of appointments (over the phone or face-to-face), with a specially trained Stop Smoking Clinician.
Tel: 0115 824 0583 (Option 2)
