Health Information

Solihull GP
Bereavement

In the unfortunate event that a person has passed away, there are three things that must be done in the first few days;

  • Get a medical certificate from your GP or hospital doctor (this is necessary to register the death)
  • Register the death within 5 days (8 days in Scotland). You will then receive the necessary documents for the funeral.
  • Make the necessary funeral arrangements.

Register the death

If the death has been reported to the coroner (or Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) they must give permission before registering the death.

You can register the death if you are a relative, a witness to the death, a hospital administrator or the person making the arrangements with the funeral directors.

You can use the ‘Register a Death’ page on the gov.uk website that will guide you through the process. This will also explain the registration process for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Arrange the funeral

The funeral can usually only take place after the death is registered. Most people use a funeral director, though you can arrange a funeral yourself.

Funeral directors

Choose a funeral director who’s a member of one of the following:

These organisations have codes of practice – they must give you a price list when asked.

Some local councils run their own British Humanist Association can also help with non-religious funerals.

Arranging the funeral yourself

Contact the Cemeteries and Crematorium Department of your local council to arrange a funeral yourself.

Funeral costs

Funeral costs can include:

  • funeral director fees
  • things the funeral director pays for on your behalf (called ‘disbursements’ or ‘third-party costs’), for example, crematorium or cemetery fees, or a newspaper announcement about the death
  • local authority burial or cremation fees

Funeral directors may list all these costs in their quotes.

Bereavement Resources

We have collated resources and contact information for a number of services (both local and national) that may be able to help support you during the bereavement process

Click here to access our bereavement resources
Carer Support

Local help for carers

Solihull Carers Centre is a local organisation for carers, and they have an extensive range of services to help support carers of all ages. They provide emotional support, information and advice and assistance to those providing unpaid care. This could be for a relative, friend or other person who has a disability, is frail or has a long-term illness.

They can be contacted on 0121 788 1143 or visit www.solihullcarers.org

Please let the surgery know if you are a Carer by clicking the below link.

Click here to register as a carer

General Information

Carers UK - UK's only national membership charity for carers, Carers UK is both a supportive community and a movement for change. More information can be found here.

Free digital resources for carers please contact the surgery for free access code

There are almost seven million carers in the UK – that is one in ten people, and this is rising. Every year in the UK, over 2.3 million adults become carers and over 2.3 million adults stop being carers.

Three in five people will be carers at some point in their lives in the UK.

Out of the UK’s carers, 42% of carers are men and 58% are women.

Over the next 30 years, it is estimated that the number of carers will increase by 3.4 million (around 60%).

Young carers & adults

Carers are not just adults – children are carers too:

In total there are 290,369 carers in the UK who are aged 16–24. Young adult carers aged between 16 and 18 years are twice as likely to be not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

Older carers

In England and Wales, just under one million (950,000) people over 65 are carers.

65% of older carers (aged 60–94) have long-term health problems or a disability themselves.

(Source – Carers Trust)

Carer support for patients with dementia

Information & support on dementia from the ICB (https://www.birminghamsolihull.icb.nhs.uk/health-information/dementia)

 

Referrals

Self-referrals

There are several services locally that you are able to make self-referrals to.

GP referrals

To request a GP referral:

Please arrange an appointment

________________________________________

Tracking a referral

To track an existing referral:

XXXXX

Accessing your Health Record

Your health record includes information like any conditions or allergies you have and any medicine you’re taking.

Most patients will automatically have access to more information added to their health record. This includes letters, test results and appointment notes.

You can access your health record and nominate someone you trust to access it too.

You can use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) or Patient Access to access your health record.

You’ll need to ask the surgery for online access to your full health record, or you’ll only see your medicines and allergies.

Request access to your full health record online

First, you need to register for online services and prove who you are. Contact the Practice for further information on this. To request access:

  • upload or visit the surgery with photo ID so we can confirm your identity
  • if you are setting up access for the first time, we will give you a username and password
  • go to xxxx or the app for access

Access to other medical records

For any other medical records, you need to ask for them at the NHS service you went to. This includes records like your hospital record.

Health A to Z

Health A to Z

Clinics
  • Annual vaccinations for certain patient cohort
  • Anticoagulation clinics
  • Blood pressure checks
  • Blood Tests
  • Cervical smears
  • Child Health Clinics
  • Child Vaccinations
  • Contraceptive advice
  • Coil / Implant fitting and checks
  • Chronic Disease Monitoring (Diabetes, Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Respiratory Disease)
  • Joint injections
  • Midwife Clinics
  • Musculoskeletal (MSK) specialist team
  • NHS Health Checks
  • Physiotherapy
  • Routine HRT checks
  • NHS Health Checks
  • Sexual health advice
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Travel Advice & vaccinations
  • Weight management
Maternity Referral Service

If you have a positive pregnancy test you can now make your own online self-referral for your maternity care, without needing to see a doctor or nurse at the practice.

Our practice is now registered and listed on the online referral portal, so all you need to do to refer for your maternity care is visit the secure link below and provide the information requested. You’ll need your NHS number and the name of the practice, with which you must be registered.

The information you provide will be used to process your referral by both the community maternity team assigned to our practice and the booking office of your chosen hospital within Birmingham and Solihull. A copy of your referral will also be shared with us, your GP Practice, for information.

To self refer visit www.badgernotes.net/SelfReferral/CareLocation/BUMP

It’s quick and easy and will just take a few minutes. This link can also be used to refer a pregnancy on behalf of someone else, providing you have her consent.

Important: You need to search for the GP practice site by the POSTCODE in the drop-down list to complete your SPA portal referral. Your referral can only be processed based on the information you provide and can delay your care if incorrect information is provided.

You’ll be able to select from a number of hospitals to provide your antenatal care and for the birth of your baby; we have a number of birthing facilities:

Hospitals sites include: Review websites for further information

UHB - Good Hope Hospital hgs.uhb.nhs.uk/good-hope-hospital

UHB - Birmingham Heartlands Hospital hgs.uhb.nhs.uk/obstetrics-heartlands-hospital

Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital bwc.nhs.uk/maternity

If you would like to refer to any other hospital then please speak with your community midwife at your first ante-natal booking appointment or contact your GP.

Vaccinations

The practice offers many vaccinations as part of the national NHS immunisation programmes. These include immunisations for children, adults and all at-risk patients.

Some vaccinations are offered as a single dose while some may require a booster. There are also some vaccinations, such as flu, that are offered seasonally.

Why vaccination is safe and important

NHS vaccinations and when to have them

Vaccines given to babies under 1 year old

6-in-1 vaccine

The 6-in-1 vaccine helps protect against serious illnesses like polio and whooping cough.

Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine

The pneumococcal vaccine helps protect against serious illnesses like pneumonia and meningitis.

MenB

The MenB vaccine will protect your baby against infection by meningococcal group B bacteria.

Rotavirus

The rotavirus vaccine helps protect against rotavirus, a common cause of diarrhoea and vomiting.

Vaccines given to children aged 1 to 15

Hib/MenC

The Hib/MenC vaccine is given to protect them against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and meningitis C.

MMR vaccine

The MMR vaccine is a safe and effective combined vaccine. 2 doses of the MMR vaccine provide the best protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

Children’s flu vaccine

Flu can be very unpleasant for children and can sometimes cause serious problems, such as pneumonia.

4-in-1 preschool booster

The 4-in-1 pre-school booster helps protect against serious illnesses such as polio and tetanus.

HPV vaccine

The HPV vaccine helps protect against human papillomavirus (HPV).

3-in-1 teenage booster

The teenage booster, also known as the 3-in-1 or the Td/IPV vaccine, is given to boost protection against 3 separate diseases: tetanus, diphtheria and polio.

MenACWY vaccine

“Fresher” students going to university for the first time should make sure they’ve had the MenACWY vaccine to prevent meningitis and septicaemia, which can be deadly.

Vaccines given to adults

Pneumococcal (PPV) vaccine

The pneumococcal vaccine helps protect against serious illnesses like pneumonia and meningitis.

Flu vaccine

The flu vaccine helps protect against flu, which can be a serious or life-threatening illness. It’s offered on the NHS every year to people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

Shingles vaccine

The shingles vaccine helps protect against shingles. The shingles vaccine helps protect against shingles. Shingles is a common condition that causes a painful rash.

Vaccines given to people at-risk

COVID-19 vaccine

Get information about COVID-19 vaccination, who can get it, and safety and side effects.

BCG (TB) vaccine

The BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccine helps protect you against an infection called tuberculosis (TB). It’s mainly given to babies and young children who are at higher risk of getting TB.

Hepatitis B vaccine

The vaccine gives protection against the hepatitis B virus, which is a major cause of serious liver disease, including scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) and liver cancer.

Chickenpox vaccine

The chickenpox vaccine protects against the varicella zoster virus that causes chickenpox.

Travel Advice / Vaccinations

Travel Vaccinations

Use this service to arrange travel vaccinations and get advice for your upcoming trip abroad.

To help the travel nurses to assess your needs, it is important that you fill out this form before your appointment.

This is not an assessment to see if you are fit to travel, the practice nurse is not qualified to do this. If you have other medical concerns of this nature, book an appointment to discuss with a GP.

Travel Vaccination Risk Assessment

It is recommended in the UK that you have a Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio Vaccine within 10 years if travelling. Please call the surgery to make an appointment for this vaccination.

Travel Advice

As vaccinations are only 5% of your risk factors when travelling abroad it is very important that you visit the webpage

Visit Travel Health Pro

On this webpage click on the country you are visiting and please study the information carefully on all advice you feel is relevant including:

Food and water precautions

Personal safety whilst abroad and rules of the country you are visiting.

Your rabies risk and what to do if you are exposed, how to stay safe in the sun.

Any malaria guidance of the country you are visiting (as you may need over the counter or prescription medication)

We recommend travel insurance for anyone travelling outside of the UK and advise you to be aware of the nearest medical centre to where you are staying in case you are to need this.

Non NHS service

The NHS provides most health care free of charge. However there are a number of other services for which fees can be charged. These are mainly for services not covered by the NHS, such as medical reports (for insurance companies) & some travel vaccinations.

Doctors are involved in a whole range of non-medical work, largely on the basis that they occupy a position of trust within the community and are in a position to verify the accuracy of information. If a GP signs a certificate or completes a report, it is a professional duty that the GP checks the accuracy of such information. This may involve examining the patient's entire medical record.

GPS Healthcare follows the BMA Guidance on Fees. Please see the link below for our fees and charges.

Sepsis

Sepsis is life threatening. It can be hard to spot.

There are lots of possible symptoms. They can be like symptoms of other conditions, including flu or a chest infection.

If you think you or someone you look after has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E. Trust your instincts.

Call 999 or go to A&E if your baby or young child has any of these symptoms:

  • blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
  • a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
  • difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
  • a weak, high-pitched cry that's not like their normal cry
  • not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
  • being sleepier than normal or difficult to wake

They may not have all these symptoms.

Find your nearest A&E

Call 999 or go to A&E if an adult or older child has any of these symptoms:

  • acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
  • blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
  • a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
  • difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast

They may not have all these symptoms.

Find your nearest A&E

Call 111 now if:

You, your child or someone you look after:

  • feels very unwell or like there's something seriously wrong
  • has not had a pee all day (for adults and older children) or in the last 12 hours (for babies and young children)
  • keeps vomiting and cannot keep any food or milk down (for babies and young children)
  • has swelling or pain around a cut or wound
  • has a very high or low temperature, feels hot or cold to the touch, or is shivering

Do not worry if you're not sure if it's sepsis – it's still best to call 111.

They can tell you what to do, arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor, or call you an ambulance.

Further information on sepsis for people with a learning disability and their carers:

For more information visit
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/
https://sepsistrust.org/