Useful contacts
Please use the 'contact us' to let us know if
- you find any information that's not correct,
- there are any other organisations you think should be listed,
- or there are areas of help that aren't covered by any organisation here.
- Assist
- Help and support for people who suffer from severe trauma.
- Phone: 01788 560800
- Website: www.assisttraumacare.org.uk
- Asthma UK
- A charity dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of people in the UK whose lives are affected by asthma.
- Helpline: 08457 01 02 03
- Website: www.asthma.org.uk
- BBC Health
- A useful and helpful website covering many areas of health and illness.
- Website: www.bbc.co.uk/health
- British Heart Foundation
- A charity that gives information and support on the health of your heart.
- Helpline: 08450 70 80 70
- Website: www.bhf.org.uk
- BRAKE
- A road-safety charity dedicated to stopping deaths and injuries on roads and caring for people whose relative or friend has been killed or injured on the road.
- Phone: 01484 559909
- Website: www.brake.org.uk
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
- For details of counsellors and psychotherapists in your area.
- Phone: 01455 883300
- Website: www.bacp.co.uk
- Citizens Advice
- You can find the phone number of your local branch by entering your postcode on their website or by looking them up in The Phone Book.
- Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
- The Colostomy Association
- Providing support and information to anyone who has a colostomy.
- Helpline: 0800 587 6744 or 0800 328 4257
- Website: www.colostomyassociation.org.uk
- Cruse Bereavement Care
- Cruse Bereavement Care provides counselling, support, information, advice, education and training services to the friends and relatives of someone who has died, to help them understand their grief and cope with their loss.
- Helpline: 0844 477 9400
- Young person’s helpline: 0808 808 1677
- Website: www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk
- Diabetes UK
- The largest charity in the UK for the care and treatment of people with diabetes.
- Helpline: 0845 120 2960
- Website: www.diabetes.org.uk
- DipEx
- A helpful website covering a wide variety of personal experiences of health and illness. It includes video interviews of people who have been through different
- illnesses and includes sections for intensive care patients and their relatives.
- Website: www.healthtalkonline.org/other_conditions/Intensive_care (for patients)
- Website: www.healthtalkonline.org/other_conditions/Intensive_care__experiences_of_family__friends (for patients’ relatives)
- Headway
- A charity that supports people with brain injuries and the people who care for them.
- Helpline: 0808 800 2244
- Website: www.headway.org.uk
- Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC)
- ICNARC is a charity that is dedicated to improving intensive care treatment and helping patients to get better sooner, with fewer complications. It has useful information for patients and relatives including an excellent list of contacts for people with specific illnesses.
- Website: www.icnarc.org/DisplayContent.aspx?root=PATIENTS
- The Intensive Care Society
- The Intensive Care Society is a professional organisation for doctors working in intensive care. The website has a very useful ‘patients and relatives’ section that explains many areas of intensive care, such as staffing, equipment, treatment and recovery.
- Website: www.ics.ac.uk/patrel
- Macmillan Cancer Support
- Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer. They provide practical, medical, emotional and financial support and campaign for better cancer treatment.
- Helpline: 0808 808 2020
- Website: www.macmillan.org.uk
- Meningitis Trust
- The Meningitis Trust provides support and information on identifying, and recovering from, meningitis.
- Helpline: 0800 028 18 28
- Website: www.meningitis-trust.org
- NHS Direct
- An NHS service with a health encyclopaedia that allows you to get information on a range of medical conditions, symptoms, types of surgery, medicines, and health and lifestyle advice.
- Phone: 0845 4647
- Website: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
- NHS Smoking Helpline
- An NHS phone line and website with detailed information about the free NHS support services for people trying to stop smoking.
- Helpline: 0800 022 4332
- Website: www.nhs.uk/gosmokefree
- NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence)
- The NICE website contains information on a broad range of medical issues.
- Website: www.nice.org.uk
- PatientUK
- This website allows people to download, or listen to, evidence-based information leaflets covering a wide range of medical and health topics.
- Website: www.patient.co.uk
- Princess Royal Trust for Carers
- The Princess Royal Trust for Carers is the largest provider of support services for carers in the UK.
- Phone: 0844 800 4361
- Website: www.carers.org
- Samaritans
- Samaritans provides confidential, unbiased emotional support, 24 hours a day, for people who feel distressed, desperate or suicidal.
- Helpline: 08457 90 90 90
- Website: www.samaritans.org
- Spinal Injuries Association
- A support charity for people suffering from spinal-cord injuries.
- Helpline: 0800 980 0501
- Website: www.spinal.co.uk
- The Stroke Association
- An organisation that provides support and information on strokes and guidance on coping with life after a stroke.
- Helpline: 0845 3033 100
- Website: www.stroke.org.uk
- Winston’s Wish
- A charity for children whose parent, brother or sister has died. Winston’s Wish helps them to rebuild their lives and face the future with hope.
- Helpline: 08452 03 04 05
- Website: www.winstonswish.org.uk