Your Health and Medical Conditions
Health and Disease- Contacting other carers in similar situations
- Lifestyles Courses
- Local Medical Services
- Out of Hours Help
- Helplines for Health
- Access to your Health and Social Care Records
Health and Disease
The BBC health website 
has information on a wide range of health conditions, summaries of illnesses and treatments, and details of organisations that can provide medical and emotional help and support. You can find out information on a range of subjects some of which are shown below, by visiting their website.
- Men's Health
- Women's Health
- Children's Ailments
- Parenting
- Mental Health - Emotional Health
- Relationships - Sexual Health
- Medical Conditions
- Addictions
- Healthy Living
There's an 'Interactive Area' on the BBC Health site that includes information on Getting confident - First aid - Life expectancy calculator.
Subscribing to their free newsletter, which is sent to your inbox fortnightly will bring you the latest tips on health issues plus you can see what's coming up on radio and television.
Touch Screen Health Kiosks are another way to look up a vast amount of information on health. As well as looking up information, you can also print off factsheets on specific topics. A health kiosk can be found at your local hospital.
Contacting other Carers in similar situations
Some websites give people the opportunity to join on-line discussion groups or chat rooms.
Discussion boards and chat rooms are where people can talk to each other through the computer. The benefit of using a discussion board or chat room is that it brings people together. It is a place where Carers can share information and offer support to each other.
Anyone can join. Some websites however, require you to register with them before they will let you use the boards or rooms.
Below is a website where you can join a discussion board. Once on the site, use the green button 'How to Use' to find out general information on using the boards and registration. It is important to read the 'Rules and Policies' before registering.
This particular website also intends in the near future to hold chat sessions that are hosted by professionals in a particular field of care.
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers
Other ways of contacting Carers is by becoming a member of a local care organisation, such as the Tameside Carers Centre. Here regular face-to-face monthly support groups are held where Carers can chat with each other and share their experiences. The Centre also hold a quarterly forum. This is an opportunity for Carers to come along, meet other Carers and speakers of interest and gather information and advice.
Lifestyles Courses
Wanting to lose weight? Tameside Lifestyle courses might be for you. An approach to a healthier lifestyle designed to help people lose weight. These 6-week courses are free and take place on a regular basis at various venues around Tameside and Glossop. Each course is run by a trained Lifestyle Facilitator. Details of venues and who to contact for an application form can be found at Tameside Central Library.
Leisure Centres
For a list of Leisure Centres in Tameside visit www.tamesidesportstrust.com
At some swimming pools you can also find facilities such as sauna/steam-room suites, squash courts, and fitness suites.
Leisure Pass
The Tameside Leisure Pass, also known as the Leisure Key Scheme offers reduced prices for activities at Swimming Pools, Sports Centres and Libraries within the Borough. Tameside residents can benefit both financially and improve their health and fitness, by joining the scheme. To find out costs for the pass and to see if you qualify, visit www.tameside.gov.uk/leisurepass
Local Medical Services
Tameside and Glossop Health and Social Care provide a database of information on local services. You can search for information by:
- Category - for items from Aids/HIV to Women's Health.
- Location - ten towns of Tameside to choose from here
- Service Sector - enter a service such as Podiatry to obtain details
- A to Z of Services - choose the initial letter of the service you require
- Body - select an area on the picture of a body to view the services available
Out of Hours Help
At some time something might happen to the person you care for that requires urgent or more immediate help and this might be out of normal office hours. Below is information on the type of help you might need and where to get it:
Emergencies
If you require emergency medical treatment, you can either:
- Ring your own GP
- Go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department
- Or call 999 for an emergency ambulance.
Local Hospitals
Tameside General Hospital, Fountain Street, Ashton-under-Lyne
0161 331 6000
The Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Road, Oldham
0161 624 0420
Chemists
Dispensaries in Tameside together with opening times:
On Line Help
NHS Direct Online provides high quality health advice and information on the internet. There's guidance to treating common health problems at home, an encyclopaedia of illnesses and conditions, and details of NHS services in your area. NHS Direct Website
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 0845 4647, any time, for immediate advice on what to do if you or a family member feels ill.
You can also obtain a copy of the NHS Direct Self-Help Guide available free from pharmacies and branches of Safeway which have pharmacies.
Go to Doc
For urgent medical attention you can make an appointment to see a doctor for treatment at:
Go to Doc, Ashton Primary Care Centre, Old Street, St. Petersfield, Ashton OL6 7SF
Opening hours:
Mon – Fri (6.30pm – 11.00pm – no day service)
Sat – (8.00am – midnight)
Sun - (8.00am – midnight)
If you need immediate and necessary medical advice or attention and cannot wait until your GP surgery is open, you can ring your own GP’s surgery telephone number and you will then be directed to Go To Doc. Alternatively you can contact Go To Doc directly on 0161 336 3252.
NHS Walk-in Centre
NHS Walk-in Centres provide fast and convenient access to the NHS. You can see an experienced nurse for healthcare advice and treatment of minor illnesses (such as coughs and colds) and minor injuries (such as small cuts, grazes and minor sprains). The nearest centres to Tameside are:
NHS Walk-in Centre, 90 Whitehall Street, Rochdale
Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri (7.00 - 9.30pm)
Sat-Sun and Bank Holidays(10am - 5.30pm)
Bury NHS Walk-in Centre, 18 Parsons Lane, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0JZ
0161 763 2460
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday 7am - 10pm
Saturday & Sunday 9am - 10pm + Bank Holidays
Helplines for Health
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 0845 4647, any time, for immediate advice on what to do if you or a family member feels ill.
This helpline provides emotional support, in confidence for all. The support can be about things to do with:
- Anxiety
- Domestic violence
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Panic attacks
- Self harm
- Stress
020 8554 9004
The Department of Health runs or supports a number of helplines on a variety of subjects. View the website above to check the list of available organisations that can help you.
Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales, and works for a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress.
0161 330 9223
Samaritans is available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.
24-hour line 08457 90 90 90 Local line 0161 236 8000 (open 9.30am - 9.30pm)
Making Space exists to help all those affected by schizophrenia and other forms of serious and enduring mental illness. It is a charity run by people who have a direct and often personal experience of this.
A local Family Support worker can be contacted on 0161 339 2985
Access to your Health and Social Care Records
Hospital Records
Tameside Hospital requires you to complete a form if you would like to look at your records. A charge will be made for looking at them; the cost of which will depend on the amount of information you need to see. Contact details are:
Tameside Hospital Fountain Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, OL6 9RW
Tel: 0161 331 6360 (Records)
The Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Road, Oldham, OL1 2JH
0161 778 5424
GP Records
You will need to make an appointment with your GP to see your own records. Normally, the doctor or a member of staff will help you with what you are looking for. The records may not be taken away but can be photocopied for a small charge.
Social Care Children's Records
If you would like to see your records, you will need to ask your Social Worker or visit your local office. Local office details are:
Children and Families, Children's Customer Services, 56 Warrington Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7JX
Children’s Social Work Teams, The Denton Centre, Acre Street, Denton, Tameside, M34 2BW
0161 342 4150 / 4477 
0161 342 4123 
0161 342 4152
Learning Disabilities Service, Frederick House, Dunkirk Lane, Hyde SK14 4QD
0161 342 5225 0161 342 5265
Mental Health Services Access & Liaison Team, Springhill, Tameside General Hospital, Fountain Street Ashton-u-Lyne
0161 331 6000
Adult Services, Adult Assessment and Customer Care Team, Stalybridge Resource Centre, Waterloo Road, Stalybridge, SK15 2AU
0161 342 2400 0161 342 2460 0161 342 3602
To gain access to your personal records in all cases, you will be asked to prove your identity, inform which records you want to see and whether or not you require a copy of them.