Further information
Social Services where you live
The social services department in the area where you live is responsible for helping to arrange any care or support you may need when you get home from hospital. Details of the social services in the areas where most of our patients live (City of London, Essex, Hackney, Islington, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Redbridge) can be found on their websites.
- City of London Social Services
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk - Essex County Council Social Services
www.essexcc.gov.uk - Hackney Social Services
www.hackney.gov.uk - Islington Social Services
www.islington.gov.uk - Newham Social Services
www.newham.gov.uk - Redbridge Social Services
www.redbridge.gov.uk - Tower Hamlets Social Services
www.towerhamlets.gov.uk - Waltham Forest Social Services
www.lbwf.gov.uk
Groups that help and support patients and carers
There a number of groups that can offer support to you, your friends, family and carers. Below are details of some of these groups:
Age Concern
Advice and information on health, housing, community care, benefits and income for older people (those over the age of 50) and their carers. Also provide local services for older people such as lunch clubs, day centres and transport.
www.ageconcern.org.uk Information line tel 0800 009966
Action on Elder Abuse
Advice and information for anyone who is worried about a vulnerable adult being abused.
Breast Cancer Care
Information and practical support through a website, helpline, publications, person to person support and health promotion activities - all of which are free. Anyone with breast cancer or breast cancer concerns can get free confidential support and information from the helpline (interpreters available for those who do not speak English).
www.breastcancercare.org.uk Helpline tel 0808 800 6000
British Heart Foundation
Information and advice to people with heart problems, especially those who have had heart attacks or heart surgery. The Information line offers confidential expert advice about heart disease.
www.bhf.org.uk Information line tel 0845 0 70 80 7014
British Red Cross
Lends medical equipment and provides a transport/escort service, emergency personal care in the home, care to give carers a break and care when someone has been discharged from hospital. Local branches throughout the UK.
www.redcross.org.uk Tel 0800 169 2030
Cancerbackup
Information and advice by telephone, letter and email for people with cancer and their carers. Also produces a wide range of information booklets on cancer. The free helpline can give information from specialist cancer information nurses to callers in more than 100 languages, using interpreters.
www.cancerbackup.org.uk Helpline tel 0808 800 1234
Cancer Black Care
Information and support for those affected by cancer from African, Caribbean and South-Asian communities. Local centres are based in Brent and Harrow and South-East London
www.cancerblackcare.org Tel 020 7249 1097
Cancer-UK
Cancer-UK is a website that gives an overview and gateway to the resources available to people with any type of cancer. It offers information about different sorts of cancer and provides advice on finding organisations and support groups that are near to you.
The Cancer Resource Centre
The centre provides information, support and complementary therapies to people with cancer.
www.cancer-resource-centre.org.uk Tel 020 7978 6203
Carers UK
Free advice and information for all carers. Over 100 local and regional centres in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales – will put you in touch with a carers group in your area.
www.carersonline.org.uk Tel 0808 808 7777
Commission for Social Care Inspection
Regulates, registers and inspects care homes and home care agencies. Reports on and inspects local councils social care services.
www.csci.org.uk Tel 0845 015 0120 or 0191 233 3323
Textphone 0845 015 2255
Counsel and Care for the Elderly
Gives advice and information to older people on a range of issues.
www.counselandcare.org.uk Tel 020 7241 8555
Crossroads - Caring for Carers
Practical 'in the home care' through trained carer support workers who will take over from a carer so that they can have time to themselves and a break from caring.
www.crossroads.org.uk Tel 0845 450 0350
Cruse Bereavement Care
Local branches provide free advice and counselling for family and friends after a death. Information on bereavement and a newsletter are available.
www.crusebereavmentcare.org.uk Helpline tel 0870 167 1677
Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Provides information, advice, support and, where appropriate, financial assistance to anyone affected by Cystic Fibrosis.
www.cftrust.org.uk Support helpline tel 0845 859 1000
Benefits helpline tel 0845 859 1010
Welfare helpline tel 0845 859 1020
General Social Care Council
Regulates the social care workforce. Responsible for registering qualified social workers.
www.gscc.org.uk Tel 0207 397 5100
Information line 020 7397 5800
Minicom 020 7397 5103
Headway
Offers information and support to people with a brain injury and their families and carers.
www.headway.org.uk Helpline tel 0808 800 2244
Hospice Information
A directory that can help you to find a hospice or palliative care service anywhere in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
www.hospiceinformation.info Tel 0870 903 3 903
Kidney Patients Association
The association is able to provide support, advice, and financial help for kidney patients to have a holiday with their families
www.britishkidney-pa.co.uk Tel 01420 472021/2
Macmillan Cancer Support
Provides care and practical and emotional support for people with cancer and their families/friends. Free advice about cancer and information on cancer and its treatments are available. The Macmillan CancerLine can connect you to an interpreter if you do not speak English.
www.macmillan.org.uk CancerLine tel 0808 808 2020
