Communicating with people with a learning disability
Communication isn’t just about talking, it’s also listening.
‘When you’re communicating with someone with a learning disability, think about your tone of voice and your body language, as well as the words you use.’
Health and wellbeing see patients who have non-medical problems and issues that need additional help. They operate from the CAB (citizen advice bureau) in Kidderminster on New Road.
Click on the images below to find out more about each subject
‘A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities – for example household tasks, socialising or managing money – which affects someone for their whole life.‘
You will be invited in for an Annual Health Check once a year if you are over the age of 14.
At your appointment you will see both a nurse and a doctor on the same day.
You will have a telephone call to book your annual health check and then be sent a questionnaire to fill out and bring to your appointment. You can bring somebody with you if you wish.
The doctor will give you a Health Action Plan to take home with you that will have important information that was discussed at the appointment.
NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do. If you need to contact a doctor when the surgery is closed then ring 111.
Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an emergency.
A learning disability is different for everyone. No two people with a learning disability are the same.
Learning disabilities usually become apparent in childhood, but some people are not diagnosed until they are adults. Learning disabilities are lifelong conditions.
Someone with a learning disability might take longer to learn new things or understand complex information. They may learn in a different way, or need information presented to them in lots of different ways.
This could affect someone’s ability to do lots of everyday things, like managing money or socialising.
Many people with learning disabilities can live independently. Other people might need more support with day-to-day life.
The NHS provides most health care to most people free of charge but there are exceptions: prescription charges have existed since 1951 and there are a number of other services for which fees are charged. Sometimes the charge is made to cover the cost of treatment, e.g. dental fees; in others because the service is not covered by the NHS, e.g. providing copies of health records or producing medical reports for insurance companies. See below a list of some of the services that are charged for:
Accident/sickness certificates for insurance services
Holiday insurance certificates
Reports to health clubs to certify that patients are fit to exercise
Life assurance and income protection reports for insurance companies
Reports for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)
Medical reports for local authorities in connection with adoption and fostering
It is important to understand that many GPs are not employed by the NHS; they are self-employed and they have to cover their costs – staff, buildings, heating, lighting etc, the same way as any small business. The NHS covers these costs for NHS work, but for non-NHS work the fees charged by GPs contribute towards their costs.
With certain limited exceptions, e.g. a GP confirming that one of their patients is not fit for jury service, GPs do not have to carry out non-NHS work for their patients. Whilst GPs will always attempt to assist their patients with the completion of forms, e.g. for insurance purposes, they are not required to do such non-NHS work.
The BMA suggests fees that GPs may charge their patients for non NHS work, these are set as a guide and the doctor is not obliged to charge the rates the BMA suggests.
For more information about the BMA guidelines and suggested non NHS fees please click here. If you have a form or a question about a form that may require a charge, please contact the surgery and you will be advised about the fee.
Dentist
Need a Dentist?
If you need to register with a dentist please click here to identify an NHS dentist in your area.
If you need help out of hours telephone NHS111 click here for further information about dental treatment and fees that may be chargeable.
Travel Vaccinations
If you are travelling abroad we advise that you contact reception on 01299 827171 or contact us online by clicking here, at least 2 months before you are due to travel. Reception will then arrange a telephone call back from one of our travel nurses. The travel nurse is then able to advise you over the telephone as to which vaccines you may require and then offer you an appointment in one of our nominated travel clinics. We have a high demand for our travel clinic service and strive to offer the best clinical advice in a timely manner, in turn benefiting patient health for their time abroad. If you give us less than 2 months notice of your travel arrangements we may not be able to accommodate you in one of our available clinics and you will then be advised to contact a travel clinic at your own convenience.
Please note some vaccines will be free of charge whilst others will incur a fee, the nurse will advise you about this when she speaks to you.
You will be asked to pay for the vaccines prior to the appointment, so that we can order them in for you.
Childhood Doctors recommend full protection for your child who will normally be called for appointments for routine vaccinations at our regular immunisation clinic by the local health authority computer system. However, immunisations may be arranged at other times if necessary. If you think your child may have missed any injections, do let us know.
Adult Have you been immunised against tetanus and polio within the last 10 years? Flu vaccinations are available during October/November for some people and others may become available. Please check with the practice nurses.
