Unit_14_A05

This task will give a description on how service users can find out about services that are available to assist them with support when dealing with illness and disease. This will include how service users can access information from the services, how information is published by the services, and how these services benefit and help the service users. Health Clinics are set up to help people deal with concerns about their sexual health condition. Health clinics provide tests to determine and ensure good health. Health clinics are suitable for babies, children, teenagers and adults. There can be health clinics which are specialised for certain health conditions, or for a certain group of individuals. For example, Genito- Urinary Medicine (GUM) Clinic covers the male and female sexual organs of the urinary system which takes urine out of your body. GPs may refer patients to a sexual health clinic if they have a problem with these parts of their body as these types of clinics specialise in that type of area. There is also an option for the service user to see someone at the sexual health clinic without being referred by their GP. At GUM clinics service users can make an appointment for general check-ups, which include tests for a range of sexually transmitted infections, support is available for service users as the clinics provide contraceptive advice, including emergency contraception and free condoms. They are also there for emotional support as finding out about STD’s can cause emotional upset. Some may also fit cervical caps or diaphragms, and provide cervical smear tests. All types of health clinics can also offer advice and counselling on a range of issues that may be concerning them. Service users can find health clinics by their local hospital, GP, public libraries, or directories. www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk The patient and Public involvement (PPI) forums were set up to make sure the public is involved and have a say in decision making about health and health services in England. The PPI Forums are made up of local volunteers who are enthusiastic about influencing and improving the way that local healthcare is delivered. There are 394 PPI Forums, one for each NHS trust in England. They are working with all sectors of the community and finding out what people really think about health in their local areas. The commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) support the forums as well as local forum support organisation. www.cppih.org they have statutory powers to ensure that health service providers listen to their individual views and members of PPI Forums are also provided with training and development opportunities to facilitate them to have an effective participate. PPI Forums have a number of major roles, which include: Making reports and recommendations on the range and day to day delivery of health services. They also influence the design of and access to NHS services. Providing advice and information to patients and their carers about services is also a major role in addition to obtaining views from local communities about health services and make recommendations and reports. All PPI Forums work together to share experiences and to address important common issues. This is how the help lines help service users by being there when they are needed. Help lines can be found in directories such as yellow pages, libraries, newspapers, hospitals and GPs. Service users are able to access information by contacting the help line and talking to someone from the service. If they are not comfortable talking to the person they are talking to for whatever reason they are able to ask to talk to someone else. Sure start is also an organisation which can support and advise the service users with any issues or problems they are experiencing. rvices and help lines to the service user. REFERENCE www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk www.cppih.org/about_who