Health and Health Services

• Changing your Dentist, Doctor or Optician
• Chemists / Pharmacies
• Dental Care
• Doctors
• Eye Care
• Health - Your Health
• Health Services
• National Service Framework for Older People (NSFOP)
• PALS (Patient Advisory Liasion Service)

Changing your Dentist, Doctor or Optician

If you want to change your dentist, doctor or optician PALS can help. Whether you want to know how to change or complain about your current service provider or to get up to the minute advice on who is taking on Patient Advice & Liason Service (PALS) can help.

Chemists / Pharmacies

You can find your nearest Chemist/Pharmacy by clicking on the town that is nearest to you on the left hand side, and following the links to the phamacies in that towns page. Alternativley Tameside and Glossop PCT's website has information on pharmacies as well.

Dental Care

You can find your nearest Dentist by clicking on the town that is nearest to you on the left hand side, and following the links to the phamacies in that towns page. Alternativley Tameside and Glossop PCT's website has information on Dentists as well. Age Concern provide advice about Dental Care Advice.

Doctors

You can find your nearest Doctor by clicking on the town that is nearest to you on the left hand side, and following the links to the Doctors/Gps in that towns page. Alternativley Tameside and Glossop PCT's website has information on local GPs as well.

Eye Care

You can find your nearest Optician by clicking on the town that is nearest to you on the left hand side, and following the links to the Opticians in that towns page. Alternativley Tameside and Glossop PCT's website has information on Opticians as well. Age Concern provide advice about Eye Care Advice.

Health - Your Health

• Exercise - Keeping Fit and Active
• Health and Medical Conditions
• Loneliness
• Medication
• Nutrition

Exercise - Keeping Fit and Active

BUPA has some advice on exercise. You can read about:

• Injury prevention
• Nutrition and the athlete
• Physical activity and ageing
• Strength training
• Walking back to health

Healthwise

A regular column on health and ageing written by Helen Franks for members of laterlife.com. A wide range of topics can be viewed. These include, taking regular exercise, arthritis, thinning bones, vitamins, hip and knee replacements, healthy heart, oiling the joints, sleep problems.

The following local organisations have programmes where you can keep fit and active:

Age Concern Tameside
has a varied keep fit and active programme. You can enjoy yourself in the following areas once you become a member of their organisation.

There are also arranged trips throughout the year. Contact Age Concern Tameside.

Disability and Fitness Organisations

List of organisations that offer fitness programmes to people with disabilities. You can also get a copy of the Greater Manchester Disability Sports Directory. This directory has details of all sports and sessions available in Greater Manchester. Please contact:

Athletics and Swimming Support Officer
Greater Manchester Sports Partnership
0161 223 1002

Ryecroft Hall Community Centre
Manchester Road, Audenshaw
0161 370 4315 0161 370 61209 ryecrofthall@mail.tameside.gov.uk

Members of the Ryecroft Hall Community Centre can enjoy a variety of activities and groups that include:  

Tameside Events Calendar
Events include:

• Computers
• Dancing
• Slimming
• Swimming
• Countryside
• Exhibitions
• Sports and exercise

View events in Tameside.

At Tameside Library it is possible to look at the library's Community Information database to find out which organisations are up and running for the activity of your choice.

Health and Medical Conditions

Looking for information about the NHS? Not feeling very well? Do you want to find out about an illness or condition? - try the NHS health encyclopedia on the NHS Direct Online website.

Tameside Council's Website has a number of links to various sources of information about:

Alzheimer's Disease | Arthritis | Cancer | Cerebral Palsy | Dementia | Diabetes (Mellitus) | Diabetes (Retinopathy) | Epilepsy | Heart Disease | Motor Neurones Disease | Multiple Sclerosis | Parkinson's Disease and others.

The Alzheimers Society is the UK's leading care and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers.

The BestTreatments website can help you and your doctor use the evidence from medical research to decide together which treatments are best for you.

The British Lung Foundation aims to promote and produce information and awareness on lung disease and lung health, funds research into the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of all lung diseases.The foundation also supports people with lung disease through the Breathe Easy Club.

The Continence Foundation For people with bladder and bowel problems.

The Dementia Care Trust formed because of the frustration with the lack of information and support provided for the Carers of people with dementia, their families and carers.

The Eczema Organisation provide a comprehensive information and advice service, an extensive network of local contacts, an expanding network of local support, funds for research and a campaigning voice on behalf of people with eczema.

Tameside Prostate Cancer Support Group meets on the first Thursday of the month at Droylsden Football club 6pm - 8pm. The group was set up to allow people to share their experiences and chat to other people in the same situation, and have a cup of tea. For further information contact Mr Les Ayres on 0161 370 7013.

Loneliness

If you feel lonely and have difficulty in coping with your loneliness, there are a number of organisations that can help you. Your local GP will most likely be supportive and guide you to a suitable organisation that can help you. Here are some of them:

Age Concern Tameside
131 Katherine Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire OL6 7AW
(0161) 308 5000 (0161) 308-5001 rachel@actameside.freeserve.co.uk

Age Concern offers a counselling service to members of their organisation. Apply for membership.

Manchester Dogs Home has various schemes to adopt dogs. Dogs can make a great companion. The dogs from the home provide have been neutered, microchipped and come with a small amount of food. They allow you to return the dog if you find it doesn't suit your circumstances.

The MIND Centre

MIND has a series of 'How to...' advice booklets, including 'How to cope with loneliness'. You can read the on line version of the booklet or purchase from the MIND shop.

18 Chester Square, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7NS
0161 330 9223 0161 339 1100

MIND also has a counselling service should you feel the need to talk to someone privately and confidentially about your difficulty. Contact details are above.

Samaritans the emotional support charity, maintains a 24 hour service for people in distress and need someone talk to.

The Action on Elder Abuse website aims to prevent abuse in old age by raising awareness, education, promoting research and the collection and dissemination of information. To provide a national information and advice service and provide guidance for the prevention of, and action on, the abuse of older people.

Medication

Taking and organising your medication

The BBC health section has advice on taking and organising your medication.

What to do with medication and equipment no longer used

After a death, you may come across some personal possessions of the deceased that you're not sure what to do with. These might be pills, syringes, ampoules, walking frames, bath seats or wheelchairs. Here is some practical advice on what you should do:

• Medication:
  The waste bin and toilet are unsuitable places to dispose of medication, as they can be harmful to the environment. If you find any medication belonging to the deceased then you should return this to your local pharmacist or hand them over to your GP.
  
  
• Syringes/Needles:
  When a person is issued with a syringe for the purpose of injecting medicine into themself at home, they will normally be supplied with a 'sharp' bin. This bin is a 'safe' container for storing the syringe when it is no longer needed. At the end of the syringe's use, the item should be placed carefully into the bin and taken to your pharmacist or GP who will tend to its disposal.
  
  If the bin cannot be found, you could always have the syringe collected. Syringes can be collected and disposed of safely by representatives of Tameside Council's Astley Street Project, whose contact details are as follows:
  
  Astley Street Project
  Lees Street Centre, Lees Street, Ashton-under-Lyne
  0161 339 4141 penninecare@nhs.uk
  
  Alternatively, you can complete and send an on-line form.

Side effects of medication

Information on the side effects of medication can be found on the BBC Health Site - Side Effects.

Nutrition

'You are what you eat' - log on to the BBC Health Site to find out about:

• Basics - how our bodies use food
• Dietary requirements - health conditions and choices
• Drinks - the importance of fluids and a look at alcohol
• Life stages - what your body needs at all ages
• Meals home and away - what we eat, when we eat and eating out
• Shopping and labelling - shopping, labelling and food safety

Information on Indian cuisine and nutrition. 

Local Life is a website that offers information about:

Health Services

• Emergency and 'Out of Hours' Help
• Health Guide
• Leaving Hospital
• Local Health and Medical Services
• Mental Health Services
• What to do when you don't know who to turn to about Health Services

Emergency and 'Out of Hours' Help

If you think you need emergency treatment, you should:

• Ring your own GP - you can find the phone number through Yellow Pages or from the Primary Care Trust website
• Go to the nearest accident and emergency (A&E) unit at your local hospital:
  Tameside General Hospital
  Fountain Street, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 9RW
  0161 331 6000 View map or,
• Dial 999 in an emergency and ask for an ambulance

For 'out of hours' help other organisations can also help:

For urgent medical attention you can make an appointment to see a doctor for treatment at:

Go to Doctors
225 Stockport Road, Guide Bridge, Ashton-under-Lyne

Opening hours:
Mon - Fri (7pm to 11pm - no day service) Sat - Sun (9am - 11pm) Bank Holidays (9am - 11pm)
Your own GP must be registered with Go to Doc in order for you to receive this service. Ring up to find out if your GP is registered on 0161 785 0805.

NHS Direct Online
provides high quality health advice and information on the Internet. There's guidance to treating common health problems at home, an encyclopedia of illnesses and conditions, and details of NHS services in your area.

NHS Direct
NHS Direct is a confidential 24-hour advice and health information service staffed by nurses and professional advisers. You can call NHS Direct on Telephone Number 0845 4647, any time, for immediate advice on what to do if you or a family member feels ill.

NHS Walk-in Centre, Whitehall Street, Rochdale
Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri (7.00 - 10pm) Sat-Sun (9.00 -10pm)

Manchester Airport NHS Walk-in Centre, Terminal 1, Manchester Airport plc, Manchester, M90 1QX
0161 489 2109
Opening Hours:
Monday to Sunday (7am - 10pm)

Bury NHS Walk-in Centre, 18 Parsons Lane, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0JZ
0161 764 6081
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday (7am - 10pm) Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays (9am - 10pm)

Health Guide

The BBC has a number of feature articles on health and the older person. You can read about:

• Arthritis
• Health and lifestyle checks
• Nutrition
• The facts about ageing
• Health and fitness
• Healthy eating
• Recovering from a fall

…and many more. View the list of articles

The BBC also has a comprehensive health guide. View the health categories

Want to read more on:

• Accessing your health and social care records
• Lifestyle courses
• Tameside libraries health project

You could even try your hand at a health quiz. The quiz can be found on the Princess Royal Trust for Carers website.

Leaving Hospital

If you are leaving or about to leave hospital, you might need some help at home with general or specific tasks. Age Concern has produced a fact sheet about discharge from hospital.

Age Concern Tameside offer a Hospital Aftercare Service for residents of Tameside/Glossop, who are over 60 years of age and have been recently discharged from Tameside General Hospital. The support is short term and free. The help given includes:

• Checking you are warm and comfortable
• Shopping/pension collection
• Helping to get other support or any advice needed
• Serving refreshments
• Emotional support or companionship

For further details contact Age Concern on 0161 308 5000 or rachael@actameside.freeserve.co.uk

Tameside and Glossop PCT has the PALS service which can act as an advocate and offer advice Patient Advice & Liason Service (PALS) website.

If you feel that you might want help remaining in your home or need advice on what equipment is available to help you. There is a great deal of advice and help available for Tameside Council's equipment webpages.

Local Health and Medical Services

Local health and medical services are run by the Primary Care Trust Are you looking for the following?

Find out where your nearest one is.

Please note that chiropody services (sometimes known as podiatry) are mainly provided by clinics and hospitals. This service is usually available for people over age 65, diabetics, pregnant women or people referred by their GP or hospital.

Some major superstores provide pharmacy services. The advantage of this can be the store's late opening hours when you might need something in a hurry. Certain stores such also offer a 'repeat prescription' collection service. Contact your store's pharmacy to check if this service is available to you.

Your pharmacy might be able to deliver your prescription to your home if you are disabled or too unwell to collect it yourself. Please check with them.

Mental Health Services

Read about mental illness and who can help. You might also find some useful information on the NHS Direct Online website. Use the links to find out more about a particular illness or condition.

What to do when you don't know who to turn to about Health Services

Read about the help, advice and support available.

National Service Framework for Older People (NSFOP)

The National Service Framework for Older People is a Government initiative whose purpose is to deliver improvements in health and social care for older people and their families. Have a look at their website. There you can read about how the NSFOP (if it hasn't already done so) intends to:

• Improve standards of care in care homes
• Allow more older people to get to the services they need
• Ensure fairer funding of long term care
• Develop services which support independence
• Help older people stay healthy

Read more about the National Service Framework for Older people

The NSF sets out the Government's standards for organisations in England that provide health and social services for older people. It aims to make sure that wherever you live, you receive the same standard of care and the quality of all services is improved:

• What can I expect from these standards?
• Who is responsible for putting these standards into action?
• How will I know if changes are being made?
• How can I find out more?
• Local information

See how Tameside and Glossop are implementing the National Services Framework for Older People.

P A L S (Patient Advisory Liasion Service)

Tameside and Glossop PCT has the PALS service which can act as an advocate and offer advice Patient Advice & Liason Service (PALS) website.

If there's anything you would like to comment on within this website, you can send an email to owl@tameside.gov.uk or use the 'Contacting us' button for an alternative way of getting in touch.

Thank you for visiting us. We hope we've been of some help to you.