Other NHS primary care services

NHS primary care professionals

Your GP is able to refer you to health professionals with expertise to treat specific aspects of certain conditions. They may visit you at home or hold clinics at your own or another local practice or community health centre. In those instances where specialist equipment is required, it may be necessary to visit them at the local hospital.

You can access district nurses, chiropodists/podiatrists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, dietitians and palliative care nurses such as Macmillan or Marie Curie nurses through your GP.

For services such as chiropody, there are often eligibility criteria that you must meet in order to be treated as a NHS patient. Services such as nail cutting, unless you have an additional medical problem, are unlikely to be offered as NHS treatment. Your GP should be able to advise you.

Physiotherapists use a range of techniques to restore movement and function within the body. As well as conditions such as back pain and muscle strains they can help a much wider range of conditions such as osteoporosis or asthma.

Occupational therapists can advise on modifications or equipment that may be useful at home to increase the independence and mobility of a person with a disability. They can be accessed through a GP or social services.

Speech and language therapists can help not only with communication difficulties but also with eating and swallowing difficulties. These may arise following a stroke or in patients with dementia. They may also be accessed through social services.

Dietitians have expertise in nutrition. They can advise on suitable meals and eating patterns for diet related diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes or coronary heart disease. They can also advise on menus provided in care homes and give general advice to those wishing to follow a healthy diet.

Complementary therapists

Interest in complementary therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine, homeopathy and osteopathy has increased in recent years. They are not often available as an NHS service. If you are considering any of these therapies on a private basis, it is advisable to discuss this with your GP. This is particularly important if you are taking medication and might be recommended to take other medication or herbal remedies by the therapist. It is important the therapist has the appropriate qualifications and insurance to treat you.

Counsellors

In some practices, GPs are able to refer you to a counsellor. However there may be quite a long waiting list. Your GP will be confident of the qualifications and competency of the counsellor you are referred to.

Community equipment

This includes a wide range of equipment for home nursing usually provided by the NHS such as pressure relief mattresses and commodes. It also includes equipment for daily living items normally provided by social services such as shower chairs, raised toilet seats and lever taps. Communication aids such as low vision aids and flashing telephones are also included.