PLEASE NOTE:

AFTER MUCH RESEARCH AND CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, ARMLEY MEDICAL PRACTICE HAVE MADE THE DECISION THAT WE WILL NOT TAKE OVER THE PRESCRIBING AND/OR MONITORING OF MEDICATION RECOMMENDED OR COMMENCED BY RIGHT TO CHOOSE OR PRIVATE PROVIDERS.

Adult ADHD

Due to overwhelming demand the Leeds Adult ADHD Service (NHS) is currently closed to non-urgent referrals. You can be referred to a Right to Choose provider via the surgery however these services are also experiencing an increase in demand and consequently, longer waiting times. You can also self-refer to a private provider of your own choice.

The Leeds Adult ADHD Service (NHS) is also no longer accepting referrals for the initiation and titration of medications prescribed by Right to Choose or private providers.

This means that you can only access medication via your provider and, in some circumstances, you may need to pay for this via a private prescription

You can find more information on how to request a Right to Choose referral by clicking this link – Adult ADHD

Adult Autism

The Leeds Autism Diagnostic Service is still accepting referrals however, due to significant increase in demand, they are experiencing very long waiting times. Please see their website for more info – Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust -Autism Diagnostic Service (LADS)

You can be referred to a Right to Choose provider via the surgery however these services are also experiencing an increase in demand and consequently, longer waiting times than previously. You can also self-refer to a private provider of your own choice.

You can find more information on how to request a Right to Choose referral for Autism by clicking this link – Adult Autism

Child ADHD/Autism

You can find more information on how to access a referral via the links below:

Child ADHD

Child Autism

You can also find lots of helpful information at the Mindmate Neurodiversity Information Hub – ND assessment and diagnosis – MindMate.

Pride in Practice for excellence in lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans healthcare.

The Practice has undertaken training for all staff to gain a better understanding of the barriers faced by LGBT communities in accessing services and why there is a higher prevalence of inequalities in health outcomes

Increased awareness of how to support LGBT patients at the practice by developing inclusive practices and patient-centred care.

Information on how Pride in Practice can offer ongoing support to enable you to support LGBT patients more effectively.

Our Equality and Diversity policy is reviewed and updated on a yearly basis.

All Practice staff are required to complete online elearning on equality and diversity yearly via the Learning for Health Portal as part of the Statutory and Mandatory training.

Attached are some helpful links for screening for transgender patients and some useful signposting for support and guidance.

Please click on the links for further information on the LGBT Foundation and Pride in Practice for excellance in lesbian, gay , bisexual and trans healthcare.

PHE Information for trans people – NHS Screening Programmes

LGBT support services:

LGBT Foundation www.lgbt.foundation.org – 0345 3 30 30 30

The Proud Trust (support of young trans people) – www.theproudtrust.org –

Galop (national) – LGBT Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0800 999 5428

Stonewall (National) – www.stonewall.co.uk – General Advice

Terence Higgins Trust – www.tht.org.uk – Support and information regarding HIV

Leeds MESMAC Sexual and Mental Health Support Leeds MESMAC

Do I need help?

If you think you might have a problem with alcohol you can find further information here: NHS Alcohol misuse

Take the test

Getting help

Forward Leeds

Forward Leeds has a wide range of services that support young people, adults and families in Leeds with alcohol and/or drug use.

It is the service that our doctors will refer you to if you need help, you can also self-refer to the service.

Here is the list of Forward Leeds services

Or call them on 0113 8872477

Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous is a national network of free self-help groups aimed at helping people recover from alcoholism.

Some people find them very useful and our Doctors often recommend them.

The best way of finding out about them and your closest group is at Alcoholics Anonymous

Health checks for people with a diagnosed problem

If you have one of the following conditions then you will be invited for an annual health check.

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Kidney disease
• Heart disease
• Asthma
• Chronic bronchitis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Learning disabilities
• Dementia
• Severe mental health problems

We invite all people for their annual health check in the same month as their birthday. You may need a blood test before the appointment, in which case the invite will say this.

The appointment will be 20 minutes long, however if you have more than one problem it will be longer.

Additional support as you get older.

Care Homes and Housbound Patients

The practice offers proactive care to our patients who reside in the local Care Homes.

Our frailty team meet regularly with GPs in the surgery to discuss concerns regarding our patients and this approach can often avoid hospital admissions.

We also offer this care to our housebound patients who are housebound via our dedicated Frailty nurse and Healthcare Assistant.

Clinical Care Co-ordinator

As you get older the range of problems you face can grow, to the point where it might be difficult to cope, know what to do for the best, or make it difficult for you to leave your house.

Our Care-Coordinator supports our older and more vulnerable patients with complex needs.

The sorts of things they can help you with are:

• health issues
• mobility issues
• memory problems
• loneliness and isolation

Their role is to help you understand the range of services available and support you in deciding the best course of action.

If you feel they could be of help, please contact us at the surgery.

Dementia services

It is very important that anyone who has problems with their memory has a proper assessment. If these problems are due to dementia then early diagnosis and referral have many benefits for the patient, their carer(s) and family. It can help them to plan and access the treatment and support they need and to improve their quality of life.

Please book with one of doctors who can make the initial assessment and refer you to the memory clinic if needs be.

Adult Social Care

Leeds city council help people aged over 18 to live as well as possible with their illness, disability or other problems. It can include help with things like washing, dressing, eating, getting out and about and keeping in touch with family and friends.

Adults who may need extra care and support include:

• older people
• people with learning disabilities
• people with physical disabilities
• people with mental health problems
• people with drug and/or alcohol issues
• carers

They offer a wide range of support and help and their adults and health page is a good place to start.

Or call them 0113 222 4401 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

This can be done by you, a family member, a friend.

If you have difficulty using the telephone please email them at feedback@leeds.gov.uk.

Midwife

The role of the midwife

A midwife is a healthcare professional who has undertaken further training to provide and promote midwifery.

They help you to prepare for motherhood and promote good health for yourself and your baby by advising on the effects of drinking, smoking and good diet whilst you are pregnant.

The midwife guides you through your pregnancy and endeavours to detect any problems and make relevant referrals if necessary.

First appointment with the midwife

If you are pregnant you do not need to see the doctor in order to have your first appointment with the midwife.

Register your pregnancy here: My Pregnancy Notes – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Once you have registered you will be contacted by the midwife to initiate your ante-natal care.

The term ‘social prescribing’ is used to describe a service which supports people to access a range of non-medical services and activities in their local area.

My name is Sinead and I am the surgeries ‘Social Prescriber.’

Social Prescribing is an additional way of looking at our health and wellbeing. Quite often we book to see our GP for problems such as depression, anxiety, loneliness and these are often problems that could be improved by having someone that can connect you to local services and organisations that are better placed at offering support for these issues.

This may include help to find out about talking therapy services, such as counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy or some educational groups that discuss these conditions and give tips on how to better manage them in a relaxed setting with other people who are experiencing similar difficulties.

If you have been out of work for a long time and would like to know what training or education is open to you or you’re unsure of how to get into some voluntary work to give you some experience for your CV, then I may be able to help.

Similarly you may be managing a long term health condition such as diabetes or arthritis with the help of your GP. Taking the prescribed medication is of course very important, but you may benefit from an educational class that looks at ways to improve your condition or tailors exercises that will help you manage your pain.

I can help connect you to the right help and support and give you the confidence to try something you may never have done before. The more we get to know and understand our health conditions the better we can manage them. If this feels like something you would like to explore further,  please enquire at your GP reception and they can make an appointment  for a friendly chat and we can see what help might be available to you.

Advocacy means helping another person to communicate their views and wishes.

GPs often act as advocates for patients when dealing with issues in the hospital or by making sure that their patients’ and/or families’ voices are heard when a decision is needed about their care.

Advocacy involves looking at choices together and helping patients to make decisions. It may be writing a letter of support or communicating on behalf of the patient.

Advocacy in Leeds

For general advice about bereavement you might find the NHS choices article on bereavement useful.

If you are looking for advice about dealing with the practical aspects (such as legal issues) of someone dying then try the Bereavement Advice Centre.

There are also several organisations and charities that provide specialist advice and support to those that have been bereaved:

• Cruse (bereavement care in Leeds area)
• Sands (stillbirth and neonatal death charity)
• The Compassionate Friends
• Leeds Suicide Bereavement Service
• Child Bereavement UK
• Winston’s Wish (for bereaved children)