Community Pharmacy Self-referral

You can now self-refer to your local community pharmacy for minor ailments, such as:

• Cold or Flu symptoms

• Sore throat

• Cough

• Diarrhoea

• Skin / Rash issues

• Hay Fever

Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals and can offer clinical advice and medicines for all sorts of minor ailments, with a same day consultation at a time that suits you. You can use the self-referral assessment to determine if you can visit a pharmacist for your illness/issue, or if you need to see your GP.

Please complete the digital triage on the link below to see if your condition is appropriate for self-referral. You can complete the digital triage tool at any time, 7 days per week but please be aware that the referral will be processed and sent to your chosen pharmacy during surgery working hours.

Please note: This service is not suitable for urgent medical issues or life-threatening emergencies.

https://www.patienttriage.co.uk/wolstanton-medical-centre

Talking Therapies Self-referral

This service offers free and confidential talking therapy and practical support for adults with common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

Please use the link below to find out where and how you can find the help that you need

Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Talking Therapies – Free & Confidential Talking Therapy (staffsandstoketalkingtherapies.nhs.uk)

Talking Therapies Service

Feeling Better in Later Life

Perinatal Wellbeing

Talking Therapies for Military Reserves Personnel and Veterans

Couples Therapy for Depression

North Staffs Carers Association Self-referral

North Staffs Carers Association is a local carer’s charity to access more information regarding support and advice.

You can also refer yourself directly to North Staffs Carers Association by clicking the below link

AC How to Refer | North Staffs Carers (carersfirst.com)

Audiology Self-referral

As of 29 September 2023, people living in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent who are having problems with their hearing are being given the option to self-refer into NHS audiology (hearing) services if they are eligible. To see if you’re eligible please use the below link

Audiology self-referral – Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, ICS (staffsstokeics.org.uk)

NHS Digital Weight Management Programme

The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme helps people to start their journey to better health. It’s a free, twelve-week online programme, designed to be flexible around your lifestyle and motivate you along the way. The programme offers nutritional advice, wellbeing support and tips to boost activity levels. To check if you’re eligible click the below link

NHS Digital Weight Management Programme – Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, ICS (staffsstokeics.org.uk)

Community Urgent Eyecare Services

What is the Community Urgent Eyecare Service?

The Community Urgent Eyecare Service (CUES) provides urgent assessment, treatment or referral for sudden onset eye problems such as flashes, floaters, vision loss or minor eye injuries. For more information and details of how to self-refer please click here – Community Urgent Eyecare Service (CUES) (primaryeyecare.co.uk)

Musculoskeletal

In many cases, Musculoskeletal problems can be treated by yourself, in your own home.

For more information on supported self-management, please follow this link Supported Self Management :: Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (mpft.nhs.uk)

Stay Well Service for Children and Young People

From 1 April 2025 a new service called ‘Stay Well’ will provide emotional health and wellbeing support for children and young people aged five to 18 years old (25 years with SEND) in Staffordshire.

The service will also help families and professionals gain the knowledge and confidence to create an emotionally healthy environment and support children and young people.

Stay Well will offer early intervention and prevention through:

The service will be provided from local venues across Staffordshire, including wellbeing centres, community venues, schools and colleges.

Find out more about the service.

How to make a referral

Children, young people and their families can refer directly into the service, or they can be referred by a professional.

Call: 01782 418 518

Online: Stay Well online referral form

When a friend, family member or loved one dies, it can be the hardest thing anyone ever has to face. It can cause a wide range of emotions and not all are expected and they are sometimes overwhelming. There is no “right way” to grieve, and you do not need to do this alone.

We are here for you, as are many dedicated organisations and sources of support.

Practical information

• What to do after someone dies: Bereavement help and support – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• After someone dies | Cancer Research UK
• What to do after a death – Citizens Advice
• Support with grief | Macmillan Cancer Support
• When someone dies (mariecurie.org.uk)
• When-a-baby-or-young-child-dies-suddenly-and-unexpectedly.pdf (lullabytrust.org.uk) and When a child dies – A guide for parents and carers (lullabytrust.org.uk)

Looking after you

• Get help with grief after bereavement or loss – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
• Coping with Grief: Managing the Experience of Grief (thenbs.org)
• I need support with a bereavement | Hospice UK
• Understanding grief – Cruse Bereavement Support
• Bereavement Services: Free Support for Bereaved People (thenbs.org)
• Bereavement support | Grief support (mariecurie.org.uk)
• Online Bereavement Support | Sue Ryder
• AtaLoss.org is the UK’s signposting and information website for bereaved people
• Support and self-care for grief – Mind

Are you 50 years old or over and experiencing grief?

• Age UK provides advice on how to deal with grief after a bereavement https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/relationships-family/bereavement/
• Beth Johnson Foundation Bereavement Friendship Project offers free 1:1 telephone befriending and group social support for people aged 50+ living in Stoke-on-Trent or North Staffordshire https://www.bjf.org.uk/bereavement-friendship/
• Dove Buddies is a social friendship group for adults who have experienced bereavement and who may be struggling with social connections, loneliness and isolation https://thedoveservice.org.uk/adult-bereavement-services-2/dove-buddies-social-groups/
• Good grief trust provides support and information for people over 50 who have suffered a bereavement https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/find-support/for-over-50s/

Are you 50 years or younger and lost a partner?

• Good Grief Trust provide support for people who have lost a partner https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/i-have-lost-a/partner/
• Widowed and young for people who have been widowed at a young age https://www.widowedandyoung.org.uk/get-support/bereavement-support

Are you, or do you know, a child or young person whose family member or friend has died?

• Child bereavement helps children, young people, parents and their families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies https://www.childbereavementuk.org/
• Grief encounter provides support to children and young people after the death of someone close https://www.griefencounter.org.uk/
• Good grief trust provides information and support for young people who have suffered a bereavement https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/find-support/for-young-people/
• Sue Ryder provide advice on supporting a bereaved child https://www.sueryder.org/how-we-can-help/bereavement-information/supporting-a-child/how-do-i-support-a-bereaved-child
• Take our hand provides support through navigating through grief for people aged 16-25 in England https://www.takeourhand.org.uk/
• Young minds provides information to support children and young people with grief and loss https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/grief-and-loss/
• Windmills specialise in facilitating or supporting families with breaking bad news conversations with children, supporting Children and Young People when someone significant in their life receives a terminal diagnosis/prognosis, providing support through the acute dying process and up to several months after the death has occurred. Windmills offer support after a sudden death has happened but can only to accept a referral within the first four weeks of a death happening. https://www.windmillscharity.org/
• Winston’s Wish helps children, teenagers and young adults (up to the age of 25) find their feet when their worlds are turned upside down by grief https://www.winstonswish.org/

Has your child, or a child close to you, died?

• Baby loss certificate if your pregnancy ends before 24 weeks, you can get a certificate in memory of your baby from https://www.gov.uk/request-baby-loss-certificate
• Child bereavement helps children, young people, parents and their families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies https://www.childbereavementuk.org/
• Child death helpline offer support to parents who have lost a child of any age, under any circumstances and however recently or long ago https://www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk/
• Compassionate friends support bereaved parents https://www.tcf.org.uk/content/helpline/
• Good Grief Trust supports families who have lost a child both at a young age and in adulthoodhttps://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/i-have-lost-a/child/
• Miscarriage association UK provides support and information for people affected by miscarriage, molar pregnancy or ectopic pregnancy https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/
• Sands provides emotional support and information right from the early hours after a baby’s death, through to the weeks, months and years ahead. Sands supports anyone affected by the death of a baby https://www.sands.org.uk/
• The lullaby trust provides confidential bereavement support to anyone affected by the sudden an unexpected death of a baby or young child https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/bereavement-support/
• Tommy’s have a serious of animations to support families affected https://www.tommys.org/baby-loss-support/baby-loss-series
• A child of mine provides families who have lost a baby or a child with emotional support, practical information and guidance https://achildofmine.org.uk/

Has a family member or friend died due to suicide?

• AMPARO provides emotional and practical support for anybody who has felt the impact of suicide https://amparo.org.uk/about-us/
• Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) offer peer-led support to adults impacted by suicide loss https://uksobs.org/
• Suicide Bereavement UK’s notification table is designed for people bereaved by suicide.  This is a valuable resource for the bereaved as many often feel totally overwhelmed when they have to notify people when a loved one has died. The notification table is free to download. https://suicidebereavementuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/FINAL-NOTIFICATION-TABLE-24.07.20.pdf

Has a family member of friend died due to substance misuse?

• DrugFAM offer support to those bereaved by suicidal abuse https://www.drugfam.co.uk/bereavement/

Medical Examinations (Non NHS)

Certain services provided by the Doctors are not covered by the NHS and fees are payable for such items as:

• Large Good Vehicle (LGV) and Passenger Service Vehicle (PSV) licences
• Elderly driver licences       
• Insurance
• Preemployment medicals
• Private certificates          
• Holiday vaccinations
• Insurance claims           
• Fitness for sports

Please ask the receptionist for such services. Charges are payable at the time of attendance, and the British Medical Asssociation (BMA) recommended scale of fees is on display at the reception desk. For further information please see Why does my doctor charge fees?

A current list of fees is displayed in our Waiting Area. It you have any queries regarding these, please enquire at Reception.

Medical Certificates

Self certification notes are available from your employer for sickness of up to one week. Any certificate required from the Doctor for periods up to the first week can only be provided as a private certificate for which there is a charge.

We are a Veteran Friendly Accredited GP Practice. This means we have a dedicated Clinician who has a specialist knowledge of service related health conditions and veteran specific health services.

This is important in helping Veterans to get the best care and treatment.

What is Social Prescribing?

Social Prescribing is a means of GPs and other Healthcare Professionals to refer people into local, non clinical services via a Social Prescriber.

A Social Prescribing Link Worker is available to work with anyone over the age of 18 within the local community through your Primary Care Network.

Your Social Prescribing Link Worker

Is someone who will listen, support, and explore ‘what matters to you’ and work with you to create a personal plan highlighting your needs based on aspects impacting on your health and wellbeing such as debt, poor housing, physical inactivity, or other lifestyle issues.

Your Social Prescribing Link Worker can provide support, information, and signposting within the local community by linking in with voluntary, community sector organisations and other agencies.

They will help you to find support that works for you.

Social Prescribing helps people

• To Adjust your lifestyle. i.e., Weight loss, stop smoking, more exercise.
• Manage your symptoms, i.e., finding support groups.
• Find work and volunteering.
• Support with debt and finances.
• Issues with accommodation due to changing needs
• Gain new networks and friends, befriending, leisure activities and groups.
• Feel positive about your life.

It can help you improve your overall wellbeing.

To access social prescribing

For further information, speak to your GP or other Healthcare Professional, who can complete a referral to the Social Prescribing Link Worker.

You will be contacted to arrange a convenient time to discuss this further.

Practice Nurses

Our Practice Nurse offers the following services:

• Maternity Care (including antenatal, postnatal care and baby care)
• Chronic Disease Checks
• Diabetes
• Asthma
• Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
• First aid advice, Blood and Urine Tests, Dressings, removal of stitches etc
• Ear syringing
• Adult and Childhood Immunisations
• Travel Immunisations
• Stopping Smoking
• Cervical Smears / Contraception Services
• Family Planning
• Health Promotion e.g., dietary advice and advice on smoking
• Advice on Diet
• Post Natal Exams
• Spirometry (lung function tests)
• New Patient Screening

The practice is actively engaged in health promotion.

In particular we can arrange; primary prevention e.g., advice on smoking, diet and exercise and immunisations both adult and childhood; screening, for example blood pressure checks, cholesterol estimations, cervical smears, travel advice and vaccines.

If you would like to discuss any of these please see one of our nurses.

The practice provides a range of family planning services and advice including; general advice, prescription as appropriate for hormonal contraceptives, and the contraceptive injection (Depo), as well as referral for sterilisation for men and women where appropriate.

Unfortunately we are no longer able to offer coil fitting or Nexplanon insertion or removal at Wolstanton Medical Centre.

Alternative provision for contraception is through the community services provider at Ryecroft Medical Centre and at Cobridge Community Health Centre. It is also possible to make appointments by ringing 0300 7900 165 during the following hours: Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 6.30pm, Friday 8.30am to 3.30pm and Saturdays 9.30am to 2pm

People seeking the intrauterine system such as Mirena® for non contraception purposes will need to be referred for a gynaecological opinion.

A wide range of clinics are held to promote good health and help in the management of long term medical conditions. For some of these, you will need to be seen by a doctor first to be referred to the clinic.

• Asthma clinic (run by the practice nurses)
• Diabetic clinic (run by a doctor with a practice nurse)
• Cardiovascular disease clinic (cholesterol, high Blood pressure, heart and stroke) (run by the practice nurses)
• International Normalized Ratio (INR) clinic (for people on warfarin) (run by the practice nurses)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease clinic (emphysema and chronic bronchitis) (run by the practice nurse)

For some others, you are welcome to ask for an appointment directly

• The family planning clinic (contraception) (run by the practice nurses)
• Well woman clinic (including Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and cervical smears) (run by the practice nurses)

For the remaining clinics, you may be invited to attend, such as the

• Baby immunisation clinic (run by the health visitor)
• Child health clinic (run by the health visitors with a doctor in rotation)
• Coronary heart disease prevention clinic (run by the practice nurses)
• Antenatal clinic (run by the midwife)

Please contact the surgery as early as possible if you feel a home visit is needed. All non-emergency visits should be notified by 10am by contacting us on 01782 627 488.

Home Visits are however not ideal for a number of reasons:

• Chiefly because we cannot offer the same facilities at home.
• Visits are also very time consuming and time spent visiting people at home means time not spent seeing people in the surgery.

We therefore restrict home visits in accordance with principles agreed across North Staffordshire, to the genuinely housebound and those whose medical condition may be made worse by bringing them to the surgery, as assessed by a doctor.

Transport difficulties may be overcome with the help of friends or relatives, taxis and other transport.

If you are concerned that you cannot wait for long periods in the waiting room, although your condition does not mean a home visit is required, please let reception know. A time can usually be arranged at which you will be seen within a few minutes of arrival.