General Health & Wellbeing
Parkrun
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it’s up to you! Register on the parkrun website and head up to Ifield Mill Pond on a Saturday morning to join in!
Weight Off Workshop
Crawley Wellbeing offers a free 12 week course for anyone aged 16+ and with a BMI of 25 or more.
The free workshops consist of:
- 12 weekly 45 minute sessions.
- Weekly advice and support from a trained advisor.
- 12 different nutritional topics delivered each week.
- Weekly exercise sessions.
- Ongoing support to help you reach your goals.
Stop Smoking
Want to stop smoking? Crawley Wellbeing offer:
- Up to 6 weekly one-to-one appointments with a trained wellbeing adviser.
- Motivational Interviewing to empower you to quit smoking.
- Support in understanding your behaviour, barriers and triggers.
- Carbon Monoxide readings using breathalysers.
- Access to NRT including patches, lozenges and gum.
Couch to 5K
The Couch to 5K app has been designed to get you off the couch and running in just 9 weeks. Grab your trainers, download the app and follow the step-by-step instructions.
Download from: play.google.com
Download from: itunes.apple.com
NHS Better Health
Healthy changes start with little changes. Whether you want to lose weight, get active or quit smoking, Better Health is here with lots of free tools and support. You can also find simple ways to lift your mood with Every Mind Matters.
Find out more on the NHS website
gloji
Join gloji and discover the best way to lose weight with their 12-week digital weight loss plan. Use interactive videos, articles, recipes and support to reach your goals.
Living Well Programme
The Living Well Programme is a free self-management course developed for people living with any long-term health condition, such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, depression, back pain, chronic fatigue syndrome etc.
They aim to help you to take more control of your health by learning new skills and techniques to manage your condition better on a daily basis. Amongst other things, the course will explore:
- How to manage common symptoms such as pain, fatigue, stress, anxiety, isolation, depression, physical limitations, shortness of breath and poor sleep
- Goal setting and problem solving
- Healthy eating
- Physical activity
- Communication skills
- Accessing NHS services and working with your Healthcare team
- Relaxation techniques
- Positive thinking
- Managing medications
- Breathing exercises
- Apps & online resources
- Budget management
Not only will the course give you new skills to help you to manage your condition and the emotional changes brought about by your condition, it also provides a great opportunity for you to meet other people who share similar experiences.
Child & Family Health
Just found out you’re pregnant?
Congratulations! Our nearest hospital trust for maternity services is Surrey & Sussex Healthcare Trust (SASH), with maternity services in East Surrey Hospital. They link in with a community midwife who runs clinics here at Ifield Medical Practice, so you can receive your regular check-ups close to home.
To get started with maternity services, fill in the Surrey & Sussex online form. A midwife will contact you to arrange your maternity screening tests and first appointment as soon as possible.
You can find all the information you need to know about getting pregnant, being pregnant, giving birth, and caring for a newborn on the Sussex Local Maternity website.
Health for Under 5s
The website provides health information for parents, covering important milestones in a child’s development from pregnancy through baby, toddler and preschool, as well as offering support, information and advice specifically for parents and carers. It includes a developmental timeline for early years and links to local advice and events in West Sussex.
Family Hubs
Family hubs offer a range of support, information and guidance to parents, carers and young people as part of Early Help.
Hubs are open for you to drop in and speak to staff Monday to Friday during opening times on a whole range of issues affecting you and your family. They also have public access computers to use, free of charge, as well as social spaces available to meet other parents.
There are two hubs in Crawley, one in Bewbush and one in Broadfield.
NHS Start for Life
Trusted NHS help and advice during pregnancy, birth and parenthood.
Find out more on the NHS website
Healthy Child Programme
Health Visitors and School Nurses, also known as Specialist Community Public Health Nurses, are qualified nurses or midwives who have completed additional training in public health.
Your local health visitor and school nurse team may also include staff nurses, assistant practitioners, community nursery nurses, school health assistants, health and wellbeing youth workers, and the school screening team.
To contact the health visitors (for children aged 0-5):
Parentline: Text 07312 277163. You can use this anonymous text service at any time and they will return your message within 24 hours, Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm, except for bank holidays and weekends. This service is for advice and support only, please do not message to arrange or amend appointments.
Telephone: 01273 242004 (Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm, excluding bank holidays). This is for advice, support and appointments.
For school nurses (for children and young people aged 5-19):
Chat Health West Sussex: Text 07480 635424. You can text at any time and they will return your call within 24 hours, Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm, except for bank holidays and weekends.
Parentline West Sussex (for parents/carers of children and young people aged 5-19): Text 07312 277011. You can text them at any time and they will return your call within 24 hours, Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm, except for bank holidays and weekends.
West Sussex School Nurse advice line: Telephone 0300 303 1137, Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm.
West Sussex Single Point of Access for Mental Health
Drug, Alcohol and Gambling Support
Crawley Wellbeing Alcohol Service
Has your drinking been catching up with you? Are you struggling to make changes to reduce your drinking levels?
Crawley Wellbeing can offer up to eight one-on-one sessions with their trained alcohol advisors in person, via telephone or online to suit your needs.
It’s free, confidential, and completely non-judgemental.
Drug and Alcohol Wellbeing Network: Change Grow Live
A free and confidential drug and alcohol service for adults aged 25+ (including offenders), families and affected others based in Crawley.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
Talk to Frank
If you have a problem with drugs, or just want some advice, Talk to Frank for friendly, confidential drugs advice. You can call, email or text, or just visit the website for information.
Drinkaware
Drinkaware is an independent charity which helps people make better choices about their drinking. They provide impartial, evidence-based information, advice and practical resources, including helpful tools like tracker apps and online calculators.
You can also call their drinkline on 0300 123 1110 if you’re worried about your own or someone else’s drinking, in complete confidence.
GamCare
GamCare is the leading provider of information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling harms. They provide structured support for anyone who is harmed by gambling, create awareness about safer gambling and treatment, and encourage an effective approach to safer gambling within the gambling industry.
Southern Gambling Service
The Southern Gambling Service provides specialist addiction therapies, treatment and recovery to those affected by gambling addiction and gambling-related harms. They offer group workshops, individual psychotherapy and medication for problematic gambling.
Older Age Health
Social Care Support
Care and support is available to help adults who may have an illness or disability to carry on living as independently as possible.
Contact West Sussex County Council to find out about what care you can receive.
Telephone: 01243 642121
Information for carers
If you care for someone who could not cope without your support because of illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, whether that’s a family member, partner or friend, then you are a carer.
If that’s you, please let us know. As a carer, you are entitled to specific support, such as health check-ups and free flu vaccines, so we want to make sure we can support you.
You can find out more about support for carers on our Carers Support page.
Age UK
Age UK is the country’s largest charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life. They believe in a world where everyone can love later life and they work every day to achieve this.
You can call the West Sussex line on 01903 731800.
Check In and Chat
Fancy a chat? NHS Volunteer Responders are here to offer you or someone you know a friendly phone call and a listening ear through their newly launched Check In and Chat service. Whether it’s just a one-off conversation, or regular chats, you can use this service by calling 0808 196 3646.
Meals on Wheels
Hot, tasty meals on wheels provided at lunchtime by Health & Independent Living Support.
Concerned about falls?
Wellbalanced
Have you felt unsteady on your feet? Have you noticed a change in your confidence when moving about? Crawley Wellbeing is here to help you improve your strength and balance, and support you to renew your stability and confidence. They offer courses to suit various abilities, led by specialist instructors. For more information, please contact wellbeing@crawley.gov.uk or call 01293 585317.
NHS UK
The NHS has advice on how to prevent falls, what causes falls, and what to do if you have a fall.
Find out more on the NHS website
Dementia Support
West Sussex Connect to Support
West Sussex County Council have pulled together a list of places to get support, as well as advice on living well with dementia.
Dementia UK
Looking for information or advice about dementia or Alzheimer’s? You can call the Dementia UK helpline for free on 0800 888 6678 for support from dementia specialist Admiral Nurses. The Helpline is open from 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturday to Sunday.
Living Well with Dementia in the South Asian Community
We used to think that losing your memory was a normal part of getting older. We know now that it is a disease, and it is possible to get help. This video from the Alzheimer’s Society is for people in the South Asian Community, talking about the support you can receive with dementia.
The Herbert Protocol
There is nothing more distressing than a loved one going missing and for people caring for someone with dementia this can become a regular occurrence.
The Herbert Protocol is a national scheme adopted by several police forces. The initiative is named after George Herbert, a Second World War veteran, who lived with dementia and repeatedly went missing from his care home.
It encourages carers or next of kin to compile and keep useful information which could be used in the event of a vulnerable person going missing. It asks for vital information about the vulnerable person, including regular routines, favourite places to visit, and details about their physical health and current medical conditions.
Find out more and download the form here
Planning Ahead
Power of Attorney
Even if you don’t think it will be useful yet, it’s a good idea to get a Power of Attorney sorted as early as you can. Power of Attorney lets you appoint one or more people to help you make decisions, or make decisions on your behalf. It only becomes active at the point where you can no longer decide for yourself.
You can choose whether you want a Power of Attorney for health and welfare, for property and financial affairs, or for both.
It costs £82 to register a Power of Attorney unless you get a reduction or exemption.
You can find out more on gov.uk.
Your Care Matters
Make sure your friends and family know what you would want to happen if you need more care in the future, or if you needed to go into hospital.
You can create a “MyCareMatters” profile which tells hospital staff and other healthcare professionals about the things you want them to know about you as a person.
It’s of particular value to people with communication challenges, such as those living with dementia, but there may come a time in any of our lives that we are admitted to hospital, for a planned visit or in an emergency and may, temporarily or otherwise, be unable to communicate. MyCareMatters provides the opportunity to tell hospital staff that you drink your tea black, that you have a fear of needles and like to wear socks in bed because of your poor circulation.
Fore more information, and to create a profile, visit the MyCareMatters website.
End of Life and Bereavement
What to do when someone dies
West Sussex County Council has bereavement guidance available, including who you need to contact and any action you need to take when someone dies.
St Catherine’s Hospice
If you’re living with a life-limiting condition, caring for someone who is, or grieving the death of a loved one, St Catherine’s Hospice will be there for you. They provide end of life care, support in the community, welfare advice, therapeutic therapies, counselling and bereavement support, and more.
The Good Grief Trust
Helping you find the support you need as quickly as possible. You will find stories from others who have had a similar loss, practical and emotional support and signposting to a choice of immediate tailored local and national support.
The National Bereavement Service
The National Bereavement Service provides practical and emotional assistance after a death. If you or a loved one is experiencing loss, you can access free support today.
Physiotherapy & Chronic Pain
MSK Self-Referrals
If you are aged 16 and over, you can refer yourself to the MSK Partnership for any musculoskeletal problems involving bones, muscles, nerves, or joints.
This includes:
- Spine (including neck)
- Shoulder
- Elbow
- Wrist/hand
- Hip
- Knee
- Foot/ankle
- Pelvic/bladder floor
- Widespread pain
MSK advise that you wait 6 weeks before referring yourself to them. This is because 86% of people get better within 6 weeks.
You will need your NHS number when you refer yourself. You can find this in the NHS App or on any hospital letter you have received.
The MSK self-referral logo, three overlapping rectangles in blue, red and yellow
Not Sure Where To Go?
Visit a Pharmacy
Your pharmacist can do so much more than complete your prescription. They can give you expert clinical advice for minor health concerns and help with many common illnesses like sore throats, coughs, colds, tummy troubles and aches and pains.
Pharmacists are trained experts in managing minor illnesses and using medicines safely. They can advise you on the safe use of prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
Most local pharmacies have private consultation rooms where your pharmacist can talk to you confidentially. They are not required to note anything in your medical records, which some people may prefer.
Go to an Urgent Treatment Centre
For injuries or illnesses that are urgent but not life threatening you can use an Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC), walk-in centre or Minor Injuries Unit (MIU). It is best to try NHS 111 first to book an appointment at the nearest service to you.
Find an Urgent Treatment Centre
Ask NHS 111
If you think you need medical help right now, 111 online can tell you what to do next. They will direct you to the best place to get help for your symptoms, or advise you on how to care for yourself at home.
NHS 111 call handlers can advise you where local NHS services are, help with prescriptions, offer self-care advice and even arrange appointments including giving you an arrival time at an Urgent Treatment Centre or A&E.