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JUNIOR DOCTOR STRIKES: 3rd January 2024 - 9th January 2024

Local health services

If you need help from your GP or another member of the practice team over the above period, we are open every weekday from 8am until 6.30pm, except for bank holidays when we are closed. Please contact us if you have a health condition that needs checking or an illness that won't go away.

Junior doctors will be on strike from 7am on Wednesday 3 January to 7am on Tuesday 9 January. This means that all NHS services, particularly hospitals, will be under severe strain. But please don’t put off seeking medical help if you need it. Here is a reminder of what local services are available:

  • The NHS website – nhs.uk has lots of advice to help you to look after yourself when you have minor symptoms. There is also information about what is a serious medical emergency.

  • If your child is feeling unwell, the Healthier Together website has advice about some common symptoms, how to look after your child at home and when to get further help.

  • Drop in to a pharmacy for health advice or information about your medicines. A pharmacist can help you to deal with a cough, cold and lots of other winter illnesses.
  • If you need help urgently, use NHS 111 online (www.111.nhs.uk) or call 111. Your symptoms will be assessed, and you will be given advice or an appointment to see a doctor or nurse if this is needed. NHS 111 can also send an ambulance and can book an appointment for you in some services like urgent treatment centres. Using 111 online means you won’t have to wait on the phone.  

  • If you are in a mental health crisis, call NHS 111 and get straight through to mental health help by selecting option 2.

  • You should call 999 in a life-threatening emergency. Life-threatening emergencies are different for adults and children.

  • Do not visit anyone in a hospital or care home if you have recently had diarrhoea or vomiting. Stomach bugs are easily spread, make already ill people very seriously unwell, and can lead to whole hospital wards being closed. Please wait 48 hours after your last bout of sickness or diarrhoea before visiting anyone who is vulnerable.  

More information on these services and self-help advice can be found at: https://hertsandwestessexics.org.uk/help-us-help 

Wellbeing Support

HERTFORDSHIRE WELLBEING SERVICE

Hertfordshire Wellbeing Service is part of the NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) initiative, offering access to free, confidential, and highly effective talking therapies for people struggling with common mental health problems including anxiety and depression. The service offers a range of treatment options to help you to make positive changes in your life and improve your emotional wellbeing. They provide 1-1 therapy, group interventions and live interactive webinars. More information is available on their website including an online self-referral form: www.hpft-iapt.nhs.uk

Looking after your mental health and wellbeing through winter

 

Winter can be difficult for many of us, darker nights and a drop in temperature can be hard on our mental health and the rising costs of living are causing emotional strain for many people who might be worrying about their families, their health, jobs and finances.  It’s normal to feel anxious and if you’re worried about the effects on your mental health, you are not alone. The following organisations are delivering services to support you to look after your mental health and well-being through winter.

 

You can self-refer to most of these services without needing to see your GP or a mental health professional.  Please visit the websites or give them a call to find out more.

 

Herts Mind Network deliver peer support, community support, domestic abuse services, complex needs services, dementia and carers support. Plus, a range of online services and Wellbeing Courses. More information can be found at www.hertsmindnetwork.org or call 0203 727 3600.

 

Mind in Mid-Herts In person and online mental health courses and workshops, social groups, exercise groups including football and walking, psychological therapies, 1-1 calls, LGBTQ+ and male/female groups as well as vocational support. Live daily mindfulness sessions.  To access any of their services contact them on 03303 208100, email admin@mindinmidherts.org.uk or visit the website: www.mindinmidherts.org.uk

 

Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust (HPFT) Wellbeing Service support for adults experiencing common mental health problems i.e., depression and anxiety. The service offers free access to digital video and telephone based talking therapies. Info & self-referral wellbeingservice/hertfordshire

 

Rethink Mental Illness offers a befriending service to adults with a mental difficulty in East Herts and carers support across the whole of Hertfordshire. Contact rethinkcompanions@rethink.org, jonathan.clack@rethink.org or call 07760615342

 

Guideposts Watford offers support with mental health problems, disability, or caring responsibilities. Group and social activities, physical activities, 1:1 support and crisis management, courses, outreach support, peer support, Carers support.info at www.guideposts.org.uk/hertfordshire-services/ or call 01923 223 554.

 

Support for autistic adults

Autism Hertfordshire provides support to autistic people, parents, carers and professionals. There is a helpline open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm, you can reach us on 01727 743246 or email enquiries@autismherts.org. Autism Hertfordshire is also able to provide support with: Pre and Post Diagnosis Support, Transitions support, adult skills development course and workshops, carers support, social activities.

 

Support for refugees and asylum seekers

Flourish provide advice, information, onward referral and holistic support to refugees and asylum seekers who are experiencing mental ill health or need support with their mental wellbeing. Please visit Flourish – Refugee Service – Hertfordshire Mind Network (hertsmindnetwork.org), or phone 020 3727 3600.

 

Dementia     

If you are concerned that you or a loved one are developing memory problems, your GP can make a referral to Hertfordshire’s Early Memory Diagnostic and Support Service (EMDASS). There is a range of information and ideas to support people with symptoms of dementia through Hertswise and Alzheimer’s Society. Or call 01707 378365 For more information you can still talk to Herts Help on 0300 123 4044.

 

InTouch is a countywide emotional support line for older people, open Monday to Friday 9am – 4:30pm. Tel:  01992 629 358 or 01992 634 964 or 07538 954 189 Email: InTouch@ageukherts.org.uk

 

Support for unpaid carers

Carers in Hertfordshire provide information, advice and support to any carer who lives, works or cares in Hertfordshire. They can be contacted on 01992 586969 or by email on contact@carersinherts.org.uk. There are also resources on their website.

 

Drug and Alcohol services

You can contact Spectrum, Change Grow Live (CGL) Drug and Alcohol Recovery Services by phone on 0800 652 3169 (0900-1700 Mon & Sat, 0900-1900 Tuesday to Friday) or emailing Herts@cgl.org.uk.

For more information visit the website on https://www.changegrowlive.org/spectrum-hertfordshire-drug-alcohol-services

 

For a range of self-help options, information and Brief Advice training, support and where to get help, please visit Health in Herts https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/health-in-herts/drugs-and-alcohol.aspx

Domestic Abuse

If you are experiencing domestic abuse or worried about someone else who might be you can contact Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Helpline: 08 088 088 088 (freephone Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat/Sun 9am-4pm) or visit the website for more information: www.hertssunflower.org

 

Bereavement

Cruse Bereavement Care Hertfordshire offer support for bereaved people via a telephone helpline. 01707 278389 Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.  For helpful resources see the Cruse website

 

Apps / National websites

There are several apps and national websites to support your mental health and wellbeing.

 

Togetherall online 24/7 peer-to-peer mental health community clinically moderated, for residents of Hertfordshire aged 16 and feeling anxious, low or depressed visit https://togetherall.com/en-gb

 

Mind - www.mind.org.uk

 

Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org/

 

Sane - out of hours helpline Tel: 0300 304 7000 from 4.30pm - 10.30pm every day

 

NHS Mental Health apps library:  www.nhs.uk/apps-library/mental-health/

Stay Alive App is a suicide prevention resource for the UK, packed full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis.  The app is available for both android and iOS.

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If you are experiencing mental health crisis - this means that emotions, thoughts and behaviours risk harm to self or others

 

If you need help urgently but it’s not an emergency

  • Anyone experiencing mental health distress can call the Crisis Helpline for emotional support and signposting. Helpline call 01923 256391. From 7pm – 1am, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
  • Call NHS 111 and select Option 2 – they can tell you where to get help

Call 999 if:

  • you or someone you know needs help in an emergency

you have seriously harmed yourself – for example, by taking a drug overdose



 
Call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergencyNHS ChoicesThis site is brought to you by My Surgery Website