Contact details for useful health and community resources
Please find below a list of useful contact details for health and community resources. More will be added in time - this is just a start - and if you feel any are of specific use you would like us to add, please let the practice know.
Telephone numbers
Lawson Memorial Hospital
01408 633157
Raigmore (Inverness) Hospital
01463 704000
Caithness (Wick) General Hospital
01955 605050
01408 621230
Useful Websites
We have included some useful health websites for information and access. We do not check these sites for accuracy and do not necessarily endorse their content by inclusion, but we and other patients have found them a very useful web resource for the community:
Health related websites
General Sites for all patients
http://www.nhs24.com/ Useful health information/advice from trained advisors 24 hours per day. Contact point out of normal surgery hours should you wish to access medical services
http://www.patient.co.uk/ Excellent resource of comprehensive health information with downloadable leaflets about most conditions and treated treatments aimed at patients and families.
Self Help Excellent resource linking you to over 1,000 support groups and self-help organisations across the UK, covering a wide range of health issues.
Travel Health Information. Planning a trip overseas? Wondering what vaccinations or medicines you may need? This site will help you find out more.
Sites of specific interest to certain groups in the community
Age Concern Scotland: Excellent support and telephone advice for older residents in Scotland. They will help you if you need advice about matters of importance to older people in the community.
Alcoholics anonymous. Good source of advice for people who may have an alcohol problem. Information for families of people with alcohol problems too.
Arthritis information. Excellent website of the Arthritis Research Campaign, with advice for patients with all forms of arthritis
Asthma support: Asthma UK, a charity providing information and support to patients with this illness. Very useful.
Bereavement support: CRUSE Scotland are a charity who provide free counselling and support to those who have lost a loved one. Excellent service.
British Heart Foundaton. Excellent resource for patients with information on how to prevent heart disease, what treatments are available and what you can do yourself.
British Tinnitus Association. For patients with persistent ear ringing. Registered charity provides free telephone support, advice and information from health professionals, as well as funding research in the UK.
Cancer support helpline. Excellent website and telephone resource, with trained advisors, for anyone who has a cancer diagnosis. Support to families also.
Child protection helpline. If you’re worried about the safety or welfare of a child or young person, call the National Child Protection Line for advice from a trained advisor.
Deaf Society Scotland: Website of the Royal National Institute of the Deaf, packed full of useful information.
Dementia support. The Alzheimer's Society, useful site to give support to those living with dementia.
Depression: how to manage it and live life to the full. Excellent online resource to help people with depression manage their illness. Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) resource is excellent and entirely free. What is CBT? Take a look - its one of the best forms of treatment for mild depression.
Diabetes UK. Patient focussed website providing useful information on diabetes.
Embarrasing Problems. Want some information to help you deal with those worrying health problems that are difficult to talk about with anyone?
Epilepsy Action. Formerly the British Epilepsy Association, support and advice for patients and families.
Fertility Support: Support group, advice and downloads for people concerned about fertility problems and accessing treatment.
Hypermobility Association: Good advice and information for the estimated one in ten people with very mobile joints (sometimes known as "double-jointed")
Learning Disability Support: Advice and help for clients and families of those with a learning disability or difficulty. Includes on-line chat forum.
Meningitis: what to look for. Advice and useful guidance for parents and anyone concerned about meningitis
Menopause matters. Useful site that provides information on coping with the transition through the menopause, treatments on offer and benefits and risks of HRT.
Osteoporosis Society: Charity dedicated to improving treatment and support for patients with osteoporosis.
Personality Disorder Support. A new charity set up to support people with personality disorders, with information, advice and where to seek help. Aims to combat stigma and discrimination against people with this diagnosis.
Samaritans: 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, support helpline ran by trained volunteers if you feel you have nowhere to turn and you cannot cope.
Smoking: how to stop without pain! Fantastic NHS Scotland resource, with ability to chat online with a trained NHS Smoking cessation advisor. Alternatively, come into the surgery and ask for an appointment with our in-house smoking cessation advisor, Katie. You dont even need to see the GP first!
Stroke Association. Education, support and advice for patients and relatives affected by stroke. Do you know what to do if a loved one experiences symptoms of a stroke? Remember the rule: act
FAST!
Local community-related websites
Brora Village Website. This isa fantastic local community resource ran by a couple of Brora residents. The site packed with links to useful information detailing community services, current issues, where to seek help and advice for many problems, and all the related 'social glue' of charities, organisations and individuals offering services or help to others that makes living in our communities special. Well worth a look!
Helmsdale Community Website. Another fantastic community resource for residents of Helmsdale, Portgower and neighbouring settlements. Lots of useful information for people in the area, or potential visitors. A site the village should be proud of.
Highland Council: Website for the local authority, including who to contact if you need help from social services, environmental health and other local services.
BRORA ACTIVITIES
The following is a list of local support groups, organisations and activities in Brora, undertaken by the PPG. Take a look, there will be something for everyone, so if you have an interest, please contact them! We hope to provide a similar list for Helmsdale when we can get a volunteer member to take this work on.
EDUCATION
Brora Primary School (621441)
Brora nursery Class ( 621441)
Brora PlayGroup (621441)
Friends of Brora Primary 01431 821268
Mothers & Toddlers
Toy Library
‘Learn Direct’ Courses (Learning Centre/Northern College) (622707)
Community Centre (622707)
Brora Library. (621128)
CHILD CARE
Garfields DayCare (621719)
Brora Busy Bees (621339)
GROUPS & ORGANISATIONS
Brownies (621887)
Rainbows (621887)
Cadets
WRI (622075)
Church Youth Fellowship (622647)
Clyne Church Fellowship (621239)
Friendship Club (621131)
Lunch Club (621131)
Heritage Group (621338)
‘A Brighter Brora’ (621309)
Indoor Bowling(Doll) (621275)
Indoor Bowling(Brora) (621807)
Egyptian Dance Class (621348)
Country Dancing (621275)
Pilates Group (621251)
Whist Club (621538)
Bingo(Bowling Club) (621538)
Bingo(Social Club) (621680)
Angling Club (621332)
Martial Arts (621076)
Tai Chi (621793)
Line Dancing (621753)
Keep Fit (621896)
Jan’s School Of Dance/Ballet/tap/Cheer Leading (621991)
Red Cross (621285)
Riverside Walks Group (621124)
Harbour Users (621821)
Lodge Clyne (633001)
Doll Community Association (633001)
Brora Community Council (621992)
Hydro Therapy Pool(Dingwall) (621320)
Clubs
Golf Club (621417)
Bowling & Tennis
Hotel Leisure Club (621252)
Football (621231)
EAST SUTHERLAND GROUPS(Linking Neighbouring Communities)
Arts Society (633001)
Camera Club (633001)
Bird Group (633247)
Walkers Group (633118)
Swimming Pool/Leisure Facilities (633477)
Games Hall. Golspie School.
Arthritis Group (Golspie)
Choral Group (633001)
Accordian & Fiddle Group (621275)
Citizens Advice Bureau (633000)