Musculoskeletal Problems

Cora Health

Musculoskeletal (MSK) refers to the muscles, ligaments, joints and nerves in the human body.

Our MSK service focuses on working with patients to help restore movement and function which may have been caused by an injury or illness. You can self-refer to the service if you are over 18 years of age.

Central London referrals – Cora Health

Maternity Services 

Congratulations on your pregnancy. 

Choosing the right hospital can be an overwhelming process. To help you do this, it can be helpful to know how NHS maternity care is provided. 

We want everyone to have continuity of carer during their maternity care. 

This means you are linked to the same team during your pregnancy and postnatal care. This helps build a relationship with your midwife and their team. Research shows this leads to better outcomes for both mums and babies. It can also give you a more positive experience throughout your pregnancy. 

Please consider where you live as part of your decision about where to have your maternity care. All hospitals offer continuity of carer if you live within in their catchment area. 

If you live outside of the catchment area, we can still provide maternity care but are unable to offer continuity of carer. The hospital from the catchment area you live in will be responsible for your postnatal care once you have left hospital after giving birth. 

All midwifery appointments are held in local community hubs if you live within our catchment area. 

To self refer to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital click here Self-refer online — Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (chelwest.nhs.uk) 

To self refer to Guys and St Thomas Hospital click here Maternity | Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (guysandstthomas.nhs.uk) 

Skin Lesions and Moles 

Skin lesions and moles are can be harmless unless there is a change in size, shape or colour. If you have any concerns regarding a skin lesion, please contact the practice and provide a photo(s) (if possible/not in a non-sensitive area) and book a GP telephone appointment. If a face to face appointment is required, the GP will arrange this with you.  

For further general information please click here Moles – NHS (www.nhs.uk) 

Depression Self Assessment 

This self-assessment will help you assess whether you could be suffering from depression, based on how you’ve been feeling over the last fortnight.  

Please complete the following NHS self-assessment tool.  

For referral to local community mental health services, please call 03033330000, email westminster.iapt@nhs.net or click here. 

BMI Calculator 

Use the BMI calculator to find out if you or your child’s weight is healthy. 

A body mass index (BMI) above the healthy weight range or too much fat around your waist can increase your risk of serious health problems, like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and certain cancers. 

Your blood pressure 

Use this tool to enter your blood pressure reading and find out what it means, along with information on how to reduce a high reading. 

Carers 

Are You a Carer? 

If you are please let us know – we may be able to help you. 

Contact Carers Support 

Office Hours: Lines are open 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday, calls are free from UK landlines. 

If you need somebody to talk to or a listening ear, Samaritans is also available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 116 123 or you can email jo@samaritans.org 

There is a wealth of information on the NHS website about carers and caring. Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful. 

• Support and advice for carers in Westminster | People First (peoplefirstinfo.org.uk)
• A guide to care and support. Information for carers and people who have care & support needs. 
• Caring for someone. Advice on providing care, medicines etc. 
• Care after hospital. Providing care for people who have been recently discharged from hospital. 
• Taking a break. Caring for someone can be a full-time job – find out about accessing breaks and respite care. 
• Support and benefits for carers. Caring for someone can be a full-time job – find out about accessing breaks and respite care. 
• Work and Disability. Guidance, support and help with employment issues. 
• Being a Young carer. Advice for carers 18 or under and their entitlement to support 

Finance and Law 

Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring. 

• Benefits for carers. Benefits for carers – Social care and support guide – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
• Benefits for the under-65s.Looking after someone guide | Carers UK
• Benefits for the over-65s Financial help if you’re disabled: Disability and sickness benefits – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Carer’s Assement Your benefits, tax and pension after the death of a partner: Tax and National Insurance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Other benefits.Looking after someone guide | Carers UK

Weight Loss Guide 

Download the NHS weight loss guide – our free 12-week diet and exercise plan. The plan, which has been downloaded more than 4 million times, is designed to help you lose weight safely – and keep it off. 

Heart Age 

The Heart Age Test tells you your heart age compared to your real age and explains why it’s important to know your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers. 

Armed Forces Veteran support 

Dedicated Health Services for the Armed Force community 

Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service 

Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, is the new overarching name for the Veterans’ Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS), Veterans’ Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (CTS) and Veterans’ Mental Health High Intensity Service (HIS). The new name has been developed following feedback from veterans and their families to make it easier for those leaving the military and veterans to find help. Op COURAGE is for Service leavers, reservists, veterans and their families, who can contact the service direct, or ask a GP, charity or someone else, such as a family member or friend, to refer them. 

For further information, including contact details for the service in your region, 
visit www.nhs.uk/opcourage 

Veterans Trauma Network (VTN) 
The VTN is for veterans who have physical health problems which have been caused from their time in the Armed Forces. Located in a number of major trauma centres across England, the VTN works closely with DMS, Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service , as well as military charities, to provide specialist care and treatment. Access is via GP referral only. 

Personalised care for veterans 
Veterans who have a complex and life-long health condition may be eligible for the veterans personalised care programme, which seeks to give individuals more choice and control over how their care is planned and delivered. Veterans will have a personalised care plan based on what matters to them and which they help to develop. They may also be eligible for a personal budget to pay for some of the care and support they need. Access to this programme of care, means that veterans should also get more support in the community and access to a range of help, such as emotional and practical support from people who have similar health conditions or disabilities. This is in addition to being supported to access dedicated services, such as Op COURAGE and the VTN. Applications should be made to the person’s local integrated care system. 

For more information, visit https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/upc/ipcfor-veterans/personalised-care-for-veterans/ 

Talking Therapy

Westminster Talking Therapies Service is part of the national ‘NHS Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression’ service, provided by Central and North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust. They offer a range of talking therapies for people who struggle with depression, anxiety, stress, panic disorders, sleep disorders, to name a few, in the Westminster borough. (The service is previously known as IAPT, which stands for ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’.)

Click here to self-refer