Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Self-referral Services
There are a number of services across Nottingham & Nottinghamshire that you can refer yourself to without seeing a clinician. Many of the services can be accessed by patients, parents and carers without a referral from a GP. By self-referring you are helping us to prioritise appointments for issues that do need a GP. The availability of self-referral services varies across the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire area.
This page list the details of self-referral services and support available. We are currently working on developing the number of services across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire that you can self-refer into and the processes to self-refer. Click on the type of service you’re interested in to find out more about the service and how you can self-refer.
Alcohol and Drug Misuse
Community Recovery & Treatment Service
Integrated drugs and alcohol service offering a range of interventions appropriate to the needs and desired outcomes of adults in Nottingham City who use alcohol and drugs. Includes drop-in sessions, Clean Slate (support for those on criminal justice pathways who use drugs and alcohol) and Rough Sleepers Drugs and Alcohol Team (support for people experiencing homelessness who use drugs and alcohol, and support for families/concerned others. To access more information and find out how you can refer into this service please visit Our Services – Nottingham Recovery Network.
Pharmacy Needle Exchange
This service is available at participating pharmacies. It provides safe access to clean needles and injecting equipment, and safe disposal of used needles for adults in Nottingham City who use injectable drugs. Please contact your local pharmacy to find out if they provide this service.
The Health Shop
The Health shop provides specialist sexual health and harm reduction service in addition to needle exchange. Contact details for The Health Shop can be found by clicking the following link Nottingham Needle Exchange and Sexual Health Service (healthshopnottingham.co.uk).
The Place
The Place is an integrated young people’s service offering a range of interventions appropriate to the needs and desired outcomes of children and young people aged 18 years and under in Nottingham City who use alcohol and drugs. This service includes a young adults’ service (18-25), and offers support to families or others concerned. If a young person is under the age of 13, parental consent is required for referrals. You can find out more information about The Place and how to self-refer by visiting their website at The Place – Nottingham | Change Grow Live.
The Level
The Level provides recovery-focused inpatient, medically assisted stabilisation, detoxification and withdrawal from drugs and alcohol. Whilst this service is available for adults resident in Nottingham City with a referral from Community Substance Misuse Services, The Level also accommodates private clients. To learn more about this service please visit their webpage.
Change Grow Live
Change Grow Live is a free and confidential advice and support service for everyone at any age living in Nottinghamshire who is experiencing problems with drugs and/or alcohol. The service includes support for individuals, children, and family members impacted by someone else’s substance misuse. You can access their self-referral form via the webpage. They welcome referrals from young people, family, friends and professionals. They will need the young person’s consent if you are contacting on their behalf and if you are under the age of 13, they will need consent from a parent.
Carers Support and Services
Carers Hub Service
Carers Federation, Carers Hub Service (CHS) is a free and confidential service that supports unpaid Carers living in Nottingham City or Nottinghamshire. The CHS is joint funded by Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council.
CHS provides a support service for unpaid Carers by giving them an opportunity to meet other Carers through support groups, helping them to reduce isolation and loneliness and to access the help and support they need.
Young Carer Support
Young Carers Notts is a free and confidential service that helps young carers aged 5-17 to take a break and get information, advice and support about caring. They hold regular events where young carers across the county can meet, make new friends and learn new skills – and try fun activities.
Continence Service
Call 0300 131 0300 Option 1 then Option 3 then Option 1.
Children’s Health
0-19 Public Health Nursing Service
Some elements of the 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service can be accessed via self-referral. The service elements that you can self-refer to are:
- Children’s Health Advice Hub. This service allows you to speak to a nurse about your child’s health and development.
- Breastfeeding support drop-in sessions
- School-based drop-in clinics for 11-19 year olds.
Information about how to access these services can be found here Children’s Public Health 0-19 Nursing Service :: Nottingham City Care
Mental Health
Kooth counselling service for children and young people (11-24 years). Call 0845 330 7090 or visit kooth.com
Young People Sexual Health Services
Nottingham University Hospitals offers a young people friendly sexual health service for young people age 13-25. The services provide free and confidential help, support and advice. Services include free contraception, min screening, pregnancy testing, and emergency contraception. Nottingham’s sexual Health Services also offer Drop-in and Outreach clinics specifically for young people to access.
Nottingham Early Help and Family Hub
Early Help
The Nottingham Early Help Partnership Webpage can be found here. To refer for Early Help support please complete the self-referral form
Family Hubs
To refer for support from the Family Hubs please complete the self-referral form
Bestwood Family Hub: 01158 761 890
Broxtowe Family Hub: 01158 763 888
Meadows Family Hub: 01158 761 320
Hyson Green Family Hub: 01158 763 888
Eye Health
Community Ophthalmology
Community Ophthalmology provides minor and urgent eye care services including low vision assessments, provision of low vision aids, and advice and support. There are two providers of Community Ophthalmology in Nottingham City and Bassetlaw. You can find out how to self-refer into the relevant service below.
- Bassetlaw: The below services are available for patients registered with a Bassetlaw GP only:
- Community Urgent Eyecare Service
- Pre-Cataract Service
- Post-Cataract Service
- Glaucoma Repeat Readings Service
- Children’s Post Vision Screening
- Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Pathway
- Eye Casualty Follow-Up Service – Available for patients referred from Nottingham University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Mmore information on these services, click here
- Nottingham City: EMMS can provide a full low vision assessment and determine whether a magnifying device would be beneficial in maximising a patient’s residual vision. Following the assessment the service can offer a wide range of devices to suit patient’s needs. To self-refer for a low vision assessement visit EMMS Healthcare
My Sight Notts, Seeing beyond sight loss: My Sight Nottinghamshire has existed since 1843 and is the sight loss charity for people across Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire. They provide a range of practical and emotional support services and social activities designed to boost confidence, support you to adapt to living with sight loss and regain your independence. To self-refer to their services, you can complete the self-referral form including an accessible version.
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB): RNIB gives blind and partially sighted people the life-changing support they need to live fulfilled, independent lives. If you have sight loss or an eye condition, or support someone who does, and would like information or support, you can call the helpline on 0303 123 9999 or complete the contact form.
Falls Prevention
Your Health Notts provides a Falls Prevention Programme which is a progressive exercise initiative designed for individuals aged 55 and over facing mobility or stability challenges. These sessions focus on strength, balance and overall well-being, the key to preventing the likelihood of falls. The programme is delivered by qualified instructors, for the eligibility criteria and further information please visit the website. You can self-refer via phone or online.
Lifestyle
Integrated Wellbeing Service
This service offers a range of health improvement interventions such as smoking cessation, weight management and physical activity. You can contact Thrive Tribe to make an initial referral, which includes an initial assessment, ongoing support dependent on your needs.
Nottingham City – Thriving Nottingham | Helping you to live well and feel great
Nottinghamshire – Home – Your Health Nottinghamshire (yourhealthnotts.co.uk)
Smoking
If you live in Nottingham City and would like help to stop smoking, please visit Thriving Nottingham, or email them on hello@thrivingnottingham.org.uk. Thriving Nottingham provide stop smoking services and is free of charge to all Nottingham city residents, funded by the Nottingham City Council Public Health Grant.
Weight Loss
To self refer visit oviva.com/uk/en/programmes/tier-2-weight-management/
Mental Health
Mental Health services
For information about Mental Health services in Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, including services that you can self-refer to, please visit our Mental Health page: Mental Health – NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB
Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies is a free and confidential NHS service designed to help with common mental health problems such as stress, anxiety and depression. Anyone aged 18+ and registered with a GP can access support. You can self refer through: Digital Assistant, Online Form, By Phone 0333 188 10 60
Musculoskeletal (MSK) Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy
These services provide assessment and management of joint and muscle problems in adults. To find out more about self-referring to a physiotherapy service please visit the relevant link below.
Bassetlaw – Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (MSK) – Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (dbth.nhs.uk)
Broxtowe and Gedling – Nottingham – Connect Health
Mansfield, Ashfield, Sherwood and Newark – Musculoskeletal physiotherapy | Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Nottingham City – MOSAIC Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy Service :: Nottingham City Care
Rushcliffe – Circle Rushcliffe MSK service – Circle Integrated Care (circlehealthgroup.co.uk)
First Contact Practitioners
Your GP service may host a First Contact Practitioner, this will enable you to see a physiotherapist hosted by your GP service without requiring a GP referral. To find out if your GP service has any First Contact Practitioners, please visit their website, or contact them directly.
Podiatry
Podiatry Services
Anyone registered with a Nottinghamshire GP with a foot problem may be able to access NHS podiatry services. Unfortunately, routine podiatry treatment or simple nail care is unavailable for people who do not have a medical condition that impacts on their foot health or have a minor foot problem. Please visit Nottinghamshire Healthcare website for details relating to eligibility criteria.
The self-referral form can be accessed here. The completed form should be emailed to: PodCommunityAdmin@nottshc.nhs.uk. Please include a photo of the foot / feet problems where possible.
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Abortion
This service provides termination of pregnancy for patients up to 23 weeks + 6 days. Patients must be registered with a GP to self-refer. There are 3 providers of this service in Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, please visit their websites to find out more:
- British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS): BPAS provides a wide range of advice and treatment from pregnancy testing, councelling, contraception and abortions. To find out more and/or book an abortion visit the webpage
- MSI Reproductive Choices: MSI Reproductive Choices specialise in treatment, advice and support for people considering abortion.
- National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory Service (NUPAS): NUPAS are abortion specialists that put your needs at the centre of their care. As part of the abortion care treatments offered, they provide additional services to promote sexual health and wellbeing, for example abortion councelling, post-abortion contraception and STI testing. You can self-refer via this link
C-Card Scheme
This scheme provides education, sexual health resources, condoms and lubricant for young people aged 13-24.
Nottingham City – Empowering Your Sexual Well-being – Healthy Sexual Life – C-Card Nottingham (ccardnottingham.org)
Nottinghamshire – Nottinghamshire Sexual Health Website (ccardnottinghamshire.co.uk)
Integrated Sexual Health Service
Nottingham University Hospitals offer a free and confidential range of Sexual Health and HIV self-referral services including sexual health screening, contraception (including Emergency Hormonal Contraception), psychosexual services, and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PreP). For advice, treatment or to book an appointment, please call 01159 627 627
Bassetlaw – Contraception And Sexual Health Clinic | Bassetlaw TriHealth | England (dbh.nhs.uk)
Mid Nottinghamshire – Sexual Health – Sherwood Forest Hospitals Foundation Trust (sfh-tr.nhs.uk)
South Nottinghamshire – Sexual Health Services | NUH
Online Sexual Health Screening
SH:24 provide free Online Sexual Health screening (Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea – dual) with a free at home test and condom and lubricant distribution. SH:24 Free Home STI STD Test | Sexual & Reproductive Health (sh24.org.uk)
Sexual Health Services – Pharmacies
Your local pharmacy may offer chlamydia screening and treatment, and oral Emergency Hormonal Contraception. Please refer to the individual pharmacy’s website to find out if they offer this service.
The Health Shop
The Health Shop provides specialist sexual health and harm reduction service in addition to needle exchange. Contact details for The Health Shop can be found by clicking the following link Nottingham Needle Exchange and Sexual Health Service (healthshopnottingham.co.uk)
Vasectomy Service
The service provides quality vasectomy procedures under local anaesthetic. This service is available to all adult males of sound mind, not acting under external duress and are registered with an NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire General Practitioner (GP). For more information about the service and how to self-refer, please visit the provider website: NHS Vasectomy – Nottingham Road Clinic
Other factors affecting our wellbeing
The places where people live, learn, work, and play shape health in many ways. The availability of healthy and affordable food, open spaces, places to meet, good homes and jobs can all benefit our physical and mental health.
Changing Futures
Changing Futures Nottingham offers a range of services to support people with severe multiple disadvantages. Services include:
- Navigator Services providing intensive support for people facing severe multiple disadvantages.
- A Lived Experience programme, which provides opportunities for people with lived experience to become involved with improving services to people experiencing severe multiple disadvantages, such as being elected to the more formal Experts by Experience Board or attending the Expert Citizens Group.
- An Independent Advocacy Service which provides independent advocacy for people experiencing severe multiple disadvantages. You do not need to be a Changing Futures beneficiary to access this service, but your complaint must be about an agency providing services to people experiencing severe multiple disadvantages.
You can self-refer to Changing Futures Nottingham at Referrals (changingfuturesnottingham.co.uk)
The Green Doctor service offers free, impartial advice and support to help you save energy, reduce your bills, and live in a more sustainable home. A home visit can be arranged to show you how you can save money on energy. The service helps people to understand bills and tariffs, and provides accessories, such as draft excluders and light bulbs. You can access this service through their website at Five Counties Green Doctor support – Groundwork
Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (IPSPC)
The IPSPC service supports people with physical or mental health conditions to find and maintain employment. To find out more please visit the Working Well East Midlands website IPSPC Working Well East Midlands
Into the Mainstream
This service supports refugees and people seeking asylum to access healthcare appropriately. They assist with a range of things including GP registration, access to dentists, opticians, mental health services, maternity care and advice on rights to NHS services. ITM Health Project | Nottingham Refugee Forum (nottsrefugeeforum.org.uk)
Maximising Independence Service
The Maximising Independence Service (formerly known as the Notts Enabling Service) aims to improve your independence. They agree goals that work to your strengths and develop a plan to improve your life skills and confidence. Their Promoting Independence Worker will work with you on your goals for up to 12 weeks. This service is available for adults with social care needs regardless of age or disability, including young people who are approaching adulthood.
Bassetlaw Community and Voluntary Service (CVS)
Bassetlaw CVS is a registered charity that works to challenge deprivation, health inequalities and social exclusion through supporting local residents and voluntary and community groups across Bassetlaw and Bolsover.
- Bassetlaw Social Prescribing Link Workers: Improving the health and wellbeing of Bassetlaw residents through supported access and navigation into local services and support. Find out more here.
- Bassetlaw Hospital Support Services: BCVS also employ voluntary and community service advisors at Bassetlaw Hospital within the A&E department and hospital discharge. They support hospital patients access the services and groups that they might need to help them. Find out more here.
Bolsover Community and Voluntary Service (CVS)
In October 2022, Bolsover CVS opened up a new office base in Bolsover Town, after a few years of sharing office space in Bassetlaw.
- Cost of Living – Bolsover: This information has been produced by Bolsover CVS in partnership with Bolsover District Council, Derbyshire County Council and Treacle.me to ensure that everyone living in Bolsover knows where and how to access the help and support available in the area. You can download PDF version of this information here.
Newark & Sherwood Community and Voluntary Service (CVS)
Newark & Sherwood CVS aims to help create, develop and support a robust, sustainable, thriving, empowered community and voluntary sector across the district. To improve the quality of life for people living in the Newark and Sherwood area, and to make the district a great place to live. Some of the services include:
- Door2Door: Door2Door is available 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday for residents across the Newark and Sherwood district who struggle to access or use public transport. Journeys can be used to visit friends, attend social activities, regular medical appointments; such as doctors and opticians, or maybe just to go shopping. Volunteer drivers use their own vehicle to collect Door2Door members from their home address and ensure they get home again safely. All Door2Door volunteers have been DBS checked and received full training. We provide transport for disabled people, people with long term conditions, vulnerable older people and those often isolated and in rural communities.
- Best Years: We believe that everyone should be able to enjoy the ‘best years’ of their life, be in control of their future, and have access to the right types of help when and where they need it. Best Years improves lives of over 65s in Newark and Sherwood by offering friendship, social connection and support, leading to better mental and physical health and wellbeing.
Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (CVS)
Established in 1875, Nottingham CVS aims to improve the quality of peoples lives in Nottingham by strengthening the voluntary and comunity sector.
Nottingham CVS supports the voluntary and community sector through:
- Volunteering: improving the quality of volunteering and breadth of volunteering opportunities across the city;
- Voluntary sector development: strengthening the voluntary sector’s capacity to help its clients through promoting best practice, funding advice and training;
- Voices: speaking up for the voluntary sector on issues crucial to its future, and increasing the sector’s access to, and influence upon, decision makers.
Rushcliffe Community Voluntary Service (CVS)
Rushcliffe CVS works to support independent living, particularly for those who are frail, elderly and vulnerable. They help people to stay physically and socially active, feel less isolated and improve their wellbeing. They offer several services that you can make a self-referral for including Befriending Service, Transport support and Handy Housekeepers.
Useful Links
Citizens Advice Bureau
Citizens Advice is a national charity and network of local charities that offer free confidential advice. They are contactable over the phone, online and in person.
Notts Help Yourself
The Notts Help Yourself website is designed to help people find information about a whole range of organisations and services cross Nottingham & Nottinghamshire including:
- Activities, groups and events in your local community,
- Childcare providers,
- Support for children and young people aged 0 – 25 with a special educational need and / or a disability,
- Health and social care information and support for adults and children,
- Workplace health schemes.
If you know someone in the community who might benefit, but they don’t have a computer, they can access Notts Help Yourself in any local library or children’s centre. People can also contact the Customer Service Centre (Nottinghamshire County Council).
NHS
You can access information on a wide range of health conditions on the NHS website Health A to Z – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
CVS Directories: By encouraging people to navigate the wealth of support services available, we can reduce the pressure on health and care services by connecting the public and patients with quality assured community services.
They are a one-stop-shop for support, information, advice on health & wellbeing related matters and services. Users can quickly search to find the best support available locally to meet their needs by searching via category or specific need or medical condition.
- Bassetlaw Directory: The Directory provides a gateway in to local voluntary and community services, encouraging and promoting self-care for patients and empowering individuals to find organisations, groups and activities that meet their wants and needs.
- Bolsover Directory: The Directory provides a gateway in to local voluntary and community services, encouraging and promoting self-care for patients and empowering individuals to find organisations, groups and activities that meet their wants and needs.
- Rushcliffe Directory: The Rushcliffe Social Prescribing Team developed a list of directories for health and social care advice and services based in Rushcliffe.