caring4u

 Moving on

 

You will want to consider what your health needs are when you are making the transition to independent living and how these may affect your decisions.  If you decide to move to a new area there are arrangements you will have to make and contact details you will want to keep handy.   If you are receiving financial support from the Council you should have completed a claim form, HC1(SC) for help with health costs.  If you have not been given a form you should ask your leaving care worker to provide one.

   How do I register with a doctor?

 

Everybody has the right to their own GP.  You can apply to join any practice in the area where you are living.  If you are turned down – for instance their list may be full – you should ask for help from the local health board which will make sure you are put on the list for another practice.  The health board’s contact details are available in the phone book.  A local library or Citizen’s Advice Bureaux will also be able to help.

 

    How do I get an Optician?

 

NHS eye examinations are free to all UK residents receiving an eye examination in Scotland.  Most high street opticians have an optometrist who provides NHS eye examinations.  Entitlement to help with the cost of glasses and contact lenses under the NHS is by way of a voucher scheme and is limited to certain categories of people.  The optician will be able to tell you if you are entitled to a voucher.  If you are not entitled to a voucher you will be required to pay the full cost of your glasses or contact lenses.

     How do I register with a dentist?

 

There is no right to registration with a dentist under NHS arrangements.  You will need to find a dentist who provides NHS treatment and ask if you can register with them under NHS arrangements.  Not all dentists provide NHS treatment.  NHS boards have a list of those dentists in their area who provide NHS dental treatment in their area.  Even those who do are under no obligation to accept you for NHS registration. 

 

    Where can I get confidential advice on

                    contraception?

 

Your GP or local family planning clinic will give confidential advice on contraception and pregnancy. You can also use any of the contacts listed under “want to know more?”  on page 29.

 

    I feel under pressure to make lots of

                    decisions and am getting stressed – who

                    can I contact for help?

 

Again, you can talk to your GP, who will know what services are available locally. You can also make contact with any of the organisations below.

 

Breathing Space is a free and confidential phoneline service for anyone who is experiencing low mood or depression, or who is unusually worried and in need of someone to talk to.  A professional adviser will be able to listen to you and you may be offered advice, guidance and given details of an appropriate support agency close to you.  Breathing Space can be contacted on 0800 83 85 87 (6pm to 2am nightly) or at www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk.

 

Childline is the free 24 hour helpline for children and young people and can be contacted on 0800 1111, www.childline.org.uk.

 

Samaritans is available 24 hours a day to provide confidential and emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, and has a particular role in supporting people experiencing suicidal feelings.  Samaritans can be contacted on 08457 90 90 90, www.samaritans.org.uk.

 

YoungMinds is a national charity looking to improve the mental health of all children and young people under 25.  Contact them at: www.youngminds.org.uk

 

   Staying Healthy – drugs/drink/healthy

                eating

 

Healthy Eating

 

There is increasing evidence that there is a connection between what we eat and how we feel – this is often called the food-mood connection.

It is important to eat a balanced diet to keep your brain healthy and maintain balanced blood sugar levels.  If your blood sugar levels are not balanced this could lead to symptoms including poor concentration, irritability, feeling tired, anxiety: feelings you do not want to have when making big changes and big decisions.

 

Tips for healthy eating:

 

• Try to eat breakfast every day
• Eat regularly (every 3-4 hours during the day)
• Avoid snacking on fast food as they contain lots of fat, sugar and salt
• You need some carbohydrates such as pasta, pulses such as beans as well as some vegetables
• Aim to get your 5 portions of fruit and veg a day
• Include oily fish such as sardines, mackerel, salmon and tuna
• Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day

 

Alcohol

 

The legal drinking age is 18.   For over 18’s, men should drink no more than 3-4 units a day (normally less than 2 cans of lager) and no more than 21 units in one week.  Women should drink no more than 2-3 units a day and no more than 14 units a week.  There is no known safe amount for under 18’s.  Doctors agree that drinking more than the sensible limits damages health in the short and long term. 

 

People sometimes wrongly use alcohol as a way of coping with difficulties in their life.  Alcohol can cause and increase anxiety and depression.  If you are concerned about your drinking speak to your doctor or your local Alcohol and Drug Action Team. You can get contact details from your social worker, or, if you don’t want your social worker to know about this, you can phone any local Social Work office and get contact details from them.

 

Also, see the contacts on page 29.

 

Drugs

 

Becoming addicted or dependent on drugs can take over a person’s life to the extent that they find it impossible to study or work or do normal everyday things.  There are a number of national helplines and websites you can contact to find out more about drugs and organisations working to help people with drug and substance misuse problems, as well as local organisations and supports you can get information on in the same ways as on alcohol, above.

 

Also, see the contacts on page 29.