Self-Help Information

Please click on any of the links below (highlighted in a blue font) for further detailed information

Cough, Cold, Earache, Sore Throat

Children:  ‘When Should I Worry?’ is a booklet developed by researchers at Cardiff University.  It provides information for parents about the management of respiratory tract infections (coughs, colds, sore throats, and ear aches) in children

Adults:  Get Well Soon Without Antibiotics – information in English ਪੰਜਾਬੀ پنجابی Español हिंदी اردو ગુજરાતી Polski Français
and other languages

NHS Shared Decision Making Tools

can help you and your doctor decide on the best treatment for:-

Expert Patients Programme

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust offers a free 6 week course called the Expert Patients Programme for anyone living with any long term health condition. The Expert Patients Programme offers a tool-kit of techniques that support people with all kinds of long term health conditions, improving your quality of life, helping you to manage your condition better on a daily basis and increasing your confidence

As a participant, you will learn how to:

• Manage fatigue, sleep, pain, anger and depression
• Set goals and make action plans
• Problem solve
• Develop your communication skills
• Manage your emotions and daily activities
• Manage relationships with family, friends, work colleagues and health care professionals
• Understand the importance of exercise and healthy eating plus many more

To book directly, please click on the blue link above for more information –

– Or email:  selfcare@walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk  – Or telephone: 01922 605490

Mental and Emotional Health

The Royal College of Psychiatrists provides comprehensive health information in English ਪੰਜਾਬੀ پنجابی Español हिंदी اردو ગુજરાતી Polski Français
and other languages

streetlife.com offers a way to connect with your local community, to exchange information and to provide mutual help and support

The Five Ways To Wellbeing are the result of research by the New Economics Forum that set out five key life areas most people need to focus on in order to feel well and healthy. A checklist you might use to discover if you have the right balance?

End-Of-Life

Taking the approach that dying is a natural stage in our lives, the Dying Coalition offers a range of leaflets, films and other resources to support you and your family

Diabetes

Information & Videos from the Canadian Diabetes Association and the British Diabetic Association on healthy eating and diabetes management

In English ਪੰਜਾਬੀ پنجابی Español हिंदी اردو ગુજરાતી Polski Français and other languages

The Sound Doctor video: ‘Diabetes – Getting Started with Self Management’ is displayed above

The Sound Doctor provides a comprehensive range of free and for-purchase healthcare videos which can be helpful to patients and their families

Diabetes UK has produced a précis of different types of diet approaches which fit with modern thinking around successful weight-loss

Preventing and Potentially Reversing Type 2 Diabetes

Information on the 8 week blood sugar diet

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

Diet

There is increasing interest in the benefits of the FODMAP diet for many gut and bowel symptoms such as irritable bowel disease.

Here are some links from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia

and Stanford Clinic in the USA

Diabetes UK has produced a précis of different types of diet approaches which fit with modern thinking around successful weight-loss

Cancer

Macmillan Cancer Support can help with a range of aspects of cancer and specifically:

Financial Support

Emotional Support

Heart

Videos from the British Heart Foundation on reducing your risk of heart disease

Lungs

Information from the British Lung Foundation covering asthma, COPD, emphysema and other conditions

The Sound Doctor video: ‘COPD – Getting Started and Coping with Exacerbations’ is displayed above

The Sound Doctor provides a comprehensive range of free and for-purchase healthcare videos which can be helpful to patients and their families

Lab Test Results

What do your lab results mean?  Lab Tests Online (UK) allows you to search for a test and read about its uses and significance

Pain Management

If you have been seen and investigated thoroughly by us and your hospital medical team, we may advise that we need to think about pain management options.  Here are some website which can help:

www.britishpainsociety.org     www.paincd.org.uk     www.tna.org.uk     www.franticworld.com

www.patient.co.uk/health/tens-machines

Steroid Joint Injections

If you have been diagnosed with a knee, shoulder or hand joint problem,  you may wish to book in to have a steroid joint injection.

Prior to attending:

• Please read the general information on the benefits and risks of steroid injection from Arthritis Research UK
• Please read this information sheet that gives specific information on joint injection
• Please print off this consent form and bring it with you to your appointment

Back Pain

The Sound Doctor video: ‘Introduction to Back Pain’ is displayed above

The Sound Doctor provides a comprehensive range of free and for-purchase healthcare videos which can be helpful to patients and their families

Skin

Helpful patient information leaflets can be found at:

The British Association of Dermatologists

DermNet New Zealand

Benign Paroxysmal Postural Vertigo

If you have been diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, you may wish to book in to have the Epley Manouevre performed.  This is demonstrated by Dr Fehilly in the following video along with self-help exercises to help benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Here is a useful leaflet (produced in the USA) for instructions for you to follow after having had the Epley Manouevre performed

Bed-wetting

Please click here for a useful patient information leaflet on bed-wetting

Age UK

Age UK – support for older patients is a pilot service set up to help put you in touch with groups and organisations which can help with support and cut down on social isolation.  Let any member of Sycamore’s practice team know if you would like us to refer you or your elderly relative

Dementia

The Sound Doctor guide to getting the best out of life with Dementia

The Sound Doctor provides a comprehensive range of free and for-purchase healthcare videos which can be helpful to patients and their families

Weight Loss Surgery (Bariatric Surgery)

The Sound Doctor guide to bariatric surgery

The Sound Doctor provides a comprehensive range of free and for-purchase healthcare videos which can be helpful to patients and their families

Paracetamol and Ibuprofen

­­­­­­­­­­­­­Mossley Fields practice have recently adapted the guidelines produced by Walsall CCG which aims to restrict the prescribing of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen products for short term use that can be bought at a reasonable cost over the counter. If this guideline is followed it will result in:

• Reduced patient reliance on prescribers for prescriptions.
• Reduced consultations for minor, self-limiting conditions.
• Increased patient self-reliance for minor conditions.

Funding of medicines available to purchase to treat self-limiting conditions and minor ailments and self-care is a personal responsibility.

Vitamin D

Mossley Fields surgery has recently adapted the guidelines produced by Walsall CCG on prescribing Vitamin D for daily supplementation.

The Department of Health recommends vitamin D supplementation in certain high risk adult groups in order to prevent Vitamin D deficiency.

• Funding of vitamin D supplements to protect and maintain bone, teeth and muscle health and for long term maintenance is a personal responsibility.
• Vitamin D is readily available to purchase in pharmacies, health food shops and supermarkets at a far lower cost than on prescription.
• It is expected that patients will purchase such supplements.
• Community pharmacists or other healthcare professionals are able to advise on suitable vitamin D products.
• For good sources of vitamin D, please visit NHS Choices website: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vitamins-minerals/Pages/Vitamin-D.aspx
• NB: *Pregnant /breastfeeding women may be eligible to obtain vitamins free of charge as part of the Healthy Start Scheme. Further information on the eligibility criteria can be found at healthystart.nhs.uk.

This does not affect GP prescribing of high-dose Vitamin D preparations that are not available over the counter.

Mossley Fields surgery will be working in line with the above guidance to promote self-care and will try to reduce the prescribing of these medicines.

For any questions or concerns about this guidance please get in touch with your practice.

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