Tameside Libraries Health Resources

Tameside Libraries are involved in a number of health initiatives. This is a guide to the health information, books, services and resources available in our Libraries.

• Get Better Health Information Sections
• Books on Prescription - self-help titles recommended by mental health professionals
• In touch with Health - Touch Screen Kiosks
• The Health Information Centre
• Local Support Groups and Organisations
• Medical directories and reference resources
• Recommended Websites

Get Better Health Information

At Tameside Libraries we care about your health and well-being. We have set up new health sections in libraries where you will find up to date books chosen by health professionals, leaflets to take away, free internet access to health websites and information on local services and support groups. Visit our information sections if you want to find out more about:

• illnesses and diseases
• drugs and treatments
• living with a medical condition
• healthy eating and nutrition
• giving up smoking
• exercise and keeping fit
• pregnancy and child health
• mental health 

To make the sections easy to find they have been sited in a prominent position in each library. Look out for the red apple Health Information signs and the red apple stickers on the spines of the books in the sections. In a library survey 96% of people agreed that libraries in Tameside are a good place to find reliable information on healthy living and health conditions. Make our Get Better Health Information sections your starting point if you are looking for information you can trust.

Books on Prescription - self-help titles recommended by mental health professionals

Tameside Libraries are partners in 2 Books on Prescription schemes, one aimed at adults and one aimed at children, young people and their parents and carers.  Over 100 self-help titles have been selected by staff from Tameside Libraries and the Primary Care Mental Health Service and cover topics such as depression, healthy living, anxiety, bereavement, anger management, low self esteem and stress. Tameside Libraries have multiple copies of the books, audio books and DVDs on the lists, which can be prescribed by health professionals or young people's workers. If you would like to know more about books on prescription or view the book lists visit the books on prescription pages.

In Touch with Health - Touch Screen Kiosks

There are Tameside & Glossop In Touch with Health kiosks in Hyde Library, Hattersley Library and Tameside Libraries Information Service at Central Library. The kiosks give you information on:

• medical conditions
• national support groups
• travel health
• surgical operations
• tests and investigations
• benefits 
• healthy living
• links to approved health websites. 

The kiosks also have special sections that cover: mental health; cancer; heart conditions; diabetes;children's health;COPD; infection control; and a section aimed at Older People. 

The kiosks are easy to use, no IT skills are required. Customers are able to increase the text size of articles and access some of the information in written and spoken Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Punjabi, Somali and Urdu. You can also access the same information held on the kiosks by visiting the Intouch with Health  website.

The Health Information Centre at Tameside Hospital

The Health Information Centre  is based at Tameside Hospital. The Centre, which is managed by Tameside Libraries Information Service, provides confidential health and care information to Tameside General Hospital patients, their carers and family members whether an inpatient, outpatient or patient of a GP. 

The Centre is open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm, you can leave a message out of hours and a staff member will contact you. The Health Information Centre provides a free service which includes:

• Leaflets on all the key health conditions
• Details of local and national support groups
• Internet based health information
• Information on support and services offered by Tameside Council
• Information in a range of community languages and other formats
• Staff available to help you find the information you need

0161 922 5332 0161 922 5463  healthinfo@tgh.nhs.uk Website: Health Information Centre website

Local Groups and Organisations Database

Tameside Libraries Local Groups and Organisations Database contains contact details for a wealth of Tameside clubs, groups and societies. Enter the database to search for local groups dealing with health matters and medical conditions.

Medical Directories and Reference Resources

Tameside Libraries Information Service hold various medical directories and resources:

• Medical Directory - provides information on registered practitioners and hospitals in the United Kingdom. This information can also be found on the General Medical Council website 
• The NHS Choices website also contains listings of medical services including Doctors surgeries, Dentists, Pharmacists and much much more.
• A-Z Care Homes Guide: listings of UK residential and nursing homes.
• Black's Medical Dictionary: for concise definitions of medical conditions.
• Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine: 4 volume one-stop source for alternative medical information.
• Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine: excellent in-depth lay persons guide.
• Institute of Healthcare Management Yearbook: a guide to hospitals (NHS and independent), Health Authorities and NHS Trusts.
• Plus various guides to medicines, drugs and common medical complaints

Recommended Websites

The staff of Tameside Libraries deal with many health related enquiries from customers. For a list of trusted health websites used by library staff please visit our recommended websites page.

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Tameside Libraries Information Service Central Library Old Street Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7SG  View local map
0161 342 2031
0161 330 4762
07968 993869 (Text Messages)
0161 342 2044