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Defence Primary Healthcare patients can now use NHS Prescriptions to collect medication from an NHS Pharmacy. This is for medicines not available at a MOD dispensary.

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The county council provides services across North Yorkshire including Harrogate, Ripon, Scarborough, Whitby, Northallerton, Thirsk, Selby, Tadcaster, Malton, Pickering, Richmond, Skipton and more.

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Referring to Talking Matters Northumberland

Referring to TMN is easy. Click 'Refer Here' to be directed to our online referral form

Key Information

Click for more information on Psychological Therapies

Click for more information on Peer Support

Click here for more information on our Out of Hours Telephone Support

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Referring to TMN is easy. Click 'Refer Here' to be directed to our online referral form Click for more information on Psychological Therapies Click for more information on Peer Support Click here for more information on our Out of Hours Telephone Support

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Subject Access Request - Medical/Dental Records

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Subject Access Request - Medical/Dental Records

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NHS advice about healthy living, including eating a balanced diet, healthy weight, exercise, quitting smoking and drinking less alcohol.

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NHS advice about healthy living, including eating a balanced diet, healthy weight, exercise, quitting smoking and drinking less alcohol.

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The Ripple Pond exists to ensure that everyone caring for a loved one who has a service attributable physical or psychological injury in the British Armed Forces Community is genuinely seen, heard, and supported.

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If you are a carer for an injured serving person or veteran, click here to find out how The Ripple Pond can help you.

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Many cases of tiredness are due to stress, not enough sleep, poor diet and other lifestyle factors. Try these self-help tips to restore your energy levels.
If you feel you're suffering from fatigue, which is an overwhelming tiredness that isn't relieved by rest and sleep, you may have an underlying medical condition. Consult a GP for advice.

Eat often to beat tiredness

A good way to keep up your energy through the day is to eat regular meals and healthy snacks every 3 to 4 hours, rather than a large meal less often.

Read more about healthy eating.

Get moving

You might feel that exercise is the last thing on your mind. But, in fact, regular exercise will make you feel less tired in the long run, so you'll have more energy.

Even a single 15-minute walk can give you an energy boost, and the benefits increase with more frequent physical activity.

Start with a small amount of exercise. Build it up gradually over weeks and months until you reach the recommended goal of 2 hours 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, such as cycling or fast walking, every week.

Read more about starting exercise.

Find out the physical activity guidelines for adults.

Lose weight to gain energy

If your body is carrying excess weight, it can be exhausting. It also puts extra strain on your heart, which can make you tired. Lose weight and you'll feel much more energetic.

Apart from eating healthily, the best way to lose weight and keep it off is to be more active and do more exercise.

Read more about how to lose weight.

Sleep well

Many people don't get the sleep they need to stay alert through the day.

The website of the Royal College of Psychiatrists has information on sleeping well.

Tips for sleeping well include:

going to bed and getting up in the morning at the same time every day

avoiding naps in the day

taking time to relax before you go to bed

Reduce stress to boost energy

Stress uses up a lot of energy. Try to introduce relaxing activities into your day. This could be:

working out at the gym

yoga or tai chi

listening to music or reading

spending time with friends

Whatever relaxes you will improve your energy.

Read more about how to relieve stress.

Talking therapy beats fatigue

There's some evidence that talking therapies such as counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) might help to fight fatigue, or tiredness caused by stress, anxiety or low mood.

See a GP for a referral for talking treatment on the NHS, or for advice on seeing a private therapist.

Cut out caffeine

The Royal College of Psychiatrists recommends that anyone feeling tired should cut out caffeine. It says the best way to do this is to gradually stop having all caffeine drinks over a 3-week period.

Caffeine is found in:

coffee

tea

cola

energy drinks

some painkillers and herbal remedies

Try to stay off caffeine completely for a month to see if you feel less tired without it.

You may find that not consuming caffeine gives you headaches. If this happens, cut down more slowly on the amount of caffeine that you drink.

Drink less alcohol

Although a couple of glasses of wine in the evening can help you fall asleep, you sleep less deeply after drinking alcohol. The next day you'll be tired, even if you sleep a full 8 hours.

Cut down on alcohol before bedtime. You'll get a better night's rest and have more energy.

The NHS recommends that men and women should not regularly drink more than 14 units a week, which is equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of low-strength wine.

Try to have several alcohol-free days each week.

Read more about how to cut down on alcohol.

Drink more water for better energy

Sometimes you feel tired simply because you're mildly dehydrated. A glass of water will do the trick, especially after exercise.

Read about healthy drinks.

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Find quick and easy self-help tips to restore your energy levels. Includes getting more exercise, drinking less alcohol before bed, and losing weight.

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The Servicewomen's Health Handbook​ was released last month and is for all personnel who are directly affected by female-specific health issues, for commanders and line managers who have a responsibility to enable their people to be their best, and for colleagues to better understand and support.

Copies of the handbook are available via internal Health and Wellbeing Portals or can be downloaded direct from Servicewomen's Health Handbook​

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The Servicewomen's Health Handbook​ was released last month and is for all personnel who are directly affected by female-specific health issues, for commanders and line managers who have a responsibility to enable their people to be their best, and for colleagues to better understand and support.

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WAKE UP TO SLEEP

5 Powerful Practices to Transform Stress and Trauma for Peaceful Sleep and Mindful Dreams

We spend a third of our lives asleep. On average, that's 30 years spent snoozing. It's one of the most important factors to ensuring good health and a longer life. So why do so many of us suffer from sleepless nights? And how can we sleep better and wake up healthier?

In this practical five-part book, sleep and dreams expert Charlie Morley shows you how to achieve restful, healing sleep, and combat the harmful effects of stress and trauma.

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We spend a third of our lives asleep. On average, that's 30 years spent snoozing. It's one of the most important factors to ensuring good health and a longer life. So why do so many of us suffer from sleepless nights? And how can we sleep better and wake up healthier?

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Find out how using an NHS stop smoking service can improve your chances of quitting smoking. Plus, how to contact a stop smoking adviser and what sessions involve.

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N ational O rganisation for P hobias, A nxiety N euroses, I nformation & C are

April is Stress Awareness month and to mark the occasion we have put in place a 30-Day Mental Wealth Challenge because;

"Small steps in the right direction can turn out to be the

biggest step of your life."

Taking one small step on a daily basis can have a huge impact on your mental health. Adding one goal into each day is an effective way to increase motivation and help you to create the life changes you want. They might seem like little things but when you take the time to break these things down into little sessions of progress, it makes it seem a whole lot easier to reach the bigger picture.

We know how hard it can be to get motivated or how sometimes you just don't feel like doing anything. Which is why we have created a 30-day wellness plan to help set you on the right track.

So why not join us throughout April and start introducing a bit of wellness into your days?

Find out more...............................................
If you would like to get in touch, please do not hesitate to drop us a line, we would love to hear from you [email protected]

APRIL IS STRESS AWARENESS MONTH

We live in a very busy world sometimes with lots of problems to cope with that causes us to feel stress. These are some things we can do to help bring our stress levels down.

1. Try relaxation techniquesEach day take time to relax all the muscles in your body. One good way to do this is to scan your body for tension, starting with a particular area for example the face, then the neck and shoulders until you have worked through your body. As you breathe in scan your face for tension and as you breathe out let the tension go. This is a quick relaxation that will break your tension down and is particularly good because you can do it anywhere and no one will be aware of what you are doing. Try and keep your thoughts focussing on the moment rather than concentrating on the what-ifs.
Try our 5-minute body scan here and feel the difference immediately: No Panic Body Scan

2. Get more sleep
Studies have shown that lack of sleep can be one of the main contributors to stress and anxiety. When we are tired our brains are unable to function correctly, our attention span drops, as does our concentration. Reasoning becomes more difficult and our memory suffers. It is important to stick to a regular routine. This means going to bed at the same time every night and getting up at the same time every morning. Weekends Included. A ritual of whatever relaxes you is great, (soothing music, warm milky drink, light reading and relaxation exercise). The bedroom should be kept at a comfortable temperature, it is important also to 'air' the room, open the window when you first get up, even if it is just for ten minutes. Turn Mattresses and pillows regularly and wear comfortable nightwear. Bedtime is switch-off time. Keep a pen and paper next to your bed, if any worries or troubles enter your thoughts as you are preparing for sleep, note them down and tell yourself 'there is a time and place for everything' You will attend to these things in the morning with a fresh mind.

3. Talk to someone
Talking about your feelings is not a sign of weakness. It is all part of taking charge of your own well-being. By talking to a friend, family member or a charity like No Panic about how you feel can be beneficial as by voicing your concerns you are gradually releasing tension and built-up anxiety from unhelpful worries. Talking things through can help us put our problems into perspective and as we calm down we can often think of solutions.

4. Diet and things to avoid
Eating a well-balanced diet is important for our well-being. Compare your body to a car, if you do not feed it the right fuel, it will eventually break down. If we skip certain meals throughout the day or go too long between eating, we will naturally become tired and have no energy, blood sugar levels will drop, which can lead to unpleasant symptoms and increase stress and anxiety. By eating too much convenience food/sugar such as cakes, biscuits, chocolate, sweets or sugary drinks, our blood sugar will rise quickly but then drops suddenly and this also leads to low mood, irritability, headaches and fatigue.
By eating regular meals throughout the day that contain protein and complex carbohydrates ensures that the blood sugar levels remain constant.
Try and reduce nicotine and any drinks containing caffeine and alcohol. These are both stimulants and will increase your level of stress rather than reduce it. Alcohol is a depressant when taken in large quantities but acts as a stimulant when we drink smaller quantities. Using alcohol as a way to reduce stress is not ultimately helpful and can in fact lead to further problems. Try drinking herbal teas, water or natural fruit juices and aim to keep your body hydrated as this enables your body to cope better with stress.

5. Exercise
Engaging in physical exercise diverts your attention from the very thing you are stressing about. Moving your body decreases muscle tension, reduces stress levels, helps relieve frustration and gives you a sense of achievement. People who exercise regularly say it gives them an enormous sense of well-being and achievement. By taking part in just 15 minutes of physical activity each day you will feel more positive and motivated.

6. Keep a Stress Diary
Keeping a stress diary for a few weeks is an effective management tool as it will help you become more aware of the situations that cause you stress.
Write down the date and place of each stressful situation and note what you were doing and how you felt both mentally and physically. Note how difficult you found the situation from 1 to 10 (ten being the worst). Maybe you will be able to spot triggers and see how you managed to cope in each situation. This will help you deal with stress and develop better coping mechanisms.

7. Take control
Stress can be triggered by a problem that may seem impossible to solve. Learning how to find a solution to your problem will help you feel more in control and more self-confident. This will help to lower your stress levels.

Acknowledge the problem, then write it down on paper.

Define the problem. What is the situation now? What would I like the situation to be?

Check your past. Has anything like this happened before? How did you cope? Is there anything you could use again?

Break the problem down into parts if possible. This will make it less daunting to find solutions.

Search for solutions. This may seem a tricky thing to do but there are solutions out there for every problem.

Remember that not solving a problem can lead to more anxiety than trying to solve it.

Taking just a small step forward is better than staying where you are.

Ask for help. Family, friends or even charities like No Panic might have ideas that you have not even thought of.

8. Manage your time
Sometimes on waking we can be daunted by the day ahead. All those tasks that lay waiting! If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Stay calm there is a great way to get on top of it all.
Sit yourself down and write a list in order of priority, number one being the most important. Now, be firm with yourself and concentrate on just number one, stick at it until it's done. When completed, put a huge, red tick next to it. Reward yourself with a cuppa before tackling number two. It isn't important if you finish the list or not, the main thing is that even by doing just one thing on the list you have achieved something, and that is a great feeling. look at that red tick.

9. Learn to say "No!"

Many of us find it difficult to say no, fearing what the other person's response will be. Most of us are born people-pleasers, helping others is looked on as a good trait even if it is at the expense of ourselves. But if you are struggling to keep on top of everything and your mental health is at risk then now is the time to pluck up the courage and take back control. You can start gradually by replying with things such as "let me think about it as I am really busy this week" or "let me get back to you as I have so much on my plate at the moment". Remember that by saying no to others, you are saying yes to yourself.

10. Rest when you are unwell
Resting when you are unwell is essential. If you are sick for whatever reason, do not feel you have to carry on regardless, you will only make yourself worse and lengthen your recovery time. Listen to your body, it is speaking to you. Taking time out to care for your body and mind should be a priority.

How to Celebrate the Little Things

Celebrating, accepting, and loving yourself is so important although sometimes we can find it hard to give ourselves a pat on the back. We are living in such a fast-paced world always looking to do better, be better and strive for more. It's ok to have big goals but it is also important to celebrate the little things.
After a period of poor mental health, I set up Little Victories to support and encourage others to celebrate all their little victories. I found when I was struggling with high levels of anxiety all I could focus on was what I was not doing or achieving. I was constantly putting myself down and feeling like a failure. At times things seemed such a blur and hectic I knew I needed to slow things down and appreciate the little things in life more.I decided I needed to check in with myself daily sometimes hourly and reflect on what I had accomplished.
After just a short time of doing this I noticed a change in my mindset. By identifying all the little victories I had achieved it helped build my self-esteem and in turn reduced my anxiety.
So how can you celebrate your little victories?

1. Purchase a small Jar, pack of sticky notes and of course, you will need a pen.

2. Each Day write down on a sticky note the date and something small you achieved that day. For example, " 01/5/18 Today I took my children to the park and managed my anxiety", "05/6/18 Today I met with a friend for a coffee".

3. As the days go by the jar will slowly fill up.

4. At the end of the year open the jar and read out loud all the wonderful things you managed to achieve no matter how small and reflect on how far you have come.

A Journal is a written record of your thoughts, experiences, and observations and a great way to document your victories. Keeping a victory journal can do wonders for your self-esteem. Not only does regular journaling make you feel good, but it also helps you re-live the events you experienced in a safe environment where you can process them without fear or stress. So, pick yourself up a notepad or invest in a journal and each day write down your thoughts and feelings from the day and write down your little victories. It is important to not give yourself a hard time and think your victories are not deserving of celebrating. Go back to basics and celebrate taking a shower, implementing self-care, or preparing a meal. It can be that simple!

Treat yourself to something nice you deserve to reward yourself. This can range from things like:

Buy Yourself a Gift

Book a Spa Treatment

Book a Meal or Takeaway

Its easy to self-sabotage and let the negative thoughts over power your victories so, it is important to schedule some time maybe as a reminder on your phone or calendar to pop a note in your victories jar or write in your journal.Remember Every Little Victory Matters No Matter How Small!

Panic, more commonly known as panic attacks, is not easily defined. It is often used to cover a multitude of unpleasant sensations and at its peak can be absolutely terrifying to the sufferer. However, panic will not cause a heart attack, send you insane nor lead to any physical illness. Like all anxiety disorders it is our normal fear mechanism working at the wrong time. The medical profession defines panic as "Acute anxiety which must include four of the following symptoms: Breathing difficulties, pains or tightness in the chest, palpitations, feeling 'unreal' or 'not there', trembling, dizziness or feeling unsteady, perspiring profusely, feeling faint or loss of balance, choking or smothering feelings." A pretty awful set of sensations but we remind you that panic cannot harm you. As stated above these are perfectly normal feelings to have when in a real 'fear' situation and are the reflexes you need to get out of danger. Anxiety disorder sufferers get them at the wrong time and in the wrong place, i.e. when no real danger is present. So, you could see panic in a more positive light - by this we mean that it proves that your 'fear' reactions are working well and would get you out of a 'real' danger situation.

Most sufferers find panic is generated by everyday occurrences, e.g. being in a crowded place or seeing a spider. However, some people do experience random panic attacks without any readily identifiable cause. So, the first thing a sufferer must do is to keep a record of when and where the attacks take place and see if a pattern emerges. This may take a long time but will be worth it if it establishes a pattern which can be treated as a phobia.

Spontaneous panic is seen in most anxiety disorders, in asthmatics, diabetics, those taking caffeine or amphetamines, depression or tranquilliser withdrawal. Recently they have been seen to appear in young people taking Ecstasy. It is also very common for normal healthy young adults to report the occasional panic attack and the latest medical research suggests that 1 in 3 people will suffer panic attacks at some stage of their life. Instead of seeing ourselves as 'weird' or 'odd' we should see ourselves as suffering from a very common disorder.

Panic attacks can be frequent or irregular happenings, can peak in a few seconds and sometimes they can last for many minutes but, rarely, do they last longer than 1 hour. If the sufferer complains of very lengthy attacks lasting for hours, it is more likely to be an accumulation of attacks which keep peaking and subsiding rather than one long attack.

Most sufferers will feel that they want to run away from the place or situation where the attack occurs but, as spontaneous panic often happens in a 'safe' place, e.g. the sufferer's own home, there is nowhere to run to and nothing to run away from. People who suffer from spontaneous panic are very likely to be well known at their local doctor's surgery as they constantly ask to be reassured that there is nothing major wrong with them. Sufferers find great difficulty in accepting that there is nothing physically amiss.

There is a great variety of opinions as to what causes panic and at present no-one is able to actually identify the cause. However, it is no good sitting around waiting for someone to come up with a 'miracle' cure. We have to get on with living and not waste time feeling sorry for ourselves and hoping for a wonder drug.

Sufferers have to break the cycle of panic. The attacks do not have to run their course each time nor do the physical symptoms that always precede an attack. We have already described some of the steps which can reduce the likelihood of attacks happening, e.g. relaxation and correct eating habits. Breakfast is essential in order to ensure that your body establishes its proper working levels. If you are having an attack then try and find something to do to stop the cycle escalating we suggest something which isn't too demanding mentally, e.g. a jigsaw or something simple. If you just sit there and wait for the attack to pass it will probably last longer.

Finally, when told to "Pull yourself together" or "Get a grip" try responding with "I would if I could, you don't think I enjoy suffering like this, do you?" Also, try and be open about your panic, you have nothing to be ashamed of and being open will reduce your panic because you are not continually trying to keep it a secret. You will be amazed at the number of people who suffer in the same way as you do.

Daniel's Story: Music is the Shorthand of Emotion

When lockdown hit the country last year it didn't really affect me too much, you see, I had already been in lockdown for 2 years due to my severe anxiety disorder and agoraphobia. I was in a very dark place, barely left my room. I could only see my girlfriend at the front door for a couple of minutes and that was on a good day, which was few and far between.

My typical day at this time consisted of me lying in bed with a fan pointing at me trying to prevent panic attack after panic attack. 9 months ago I decided that I had to do something, I couldn't go on living this way. Something had to change as things were only getting worse. One day it just came to me, I was going to attempt to express how I felt through my song. Music had been a big part of my life from a very young age. I grew up with parents who listened to the likes of George Michael, Boyz 2 Men, Nsync, these all influenced my love of the 90's era of pop.

It took a lot of strength for me to build up the courage and energy to actually sit down and put pen to paper, I don't know how, but I did it. I put on an instrumental and started writing how I felt. The first day led to the second which led to the third. Day after day my feelings poured out onto the blank sheets and so far I've written over 25 songs. I created a YouTube channel and started uploading my work. What came next has left me well and truly astounded! I have reached over 300,000 channel views so far in just 9 months which I honestly can not believe still to this day. I've received hundreds of messages from people thanking me for helping them understand that they are not alone in how they are feeling and what they are going through. I've even heard from someone who was having suicidal thoughts. They said thank you as my music had inspired them to focus on brighter days ahead. This meant so much to me.
I am still more or less housebound but I am taking baby steps and facing things I've feared for so long. I have even managed to stay outside for a small period of time which I would never think possible a few months ago.

My goal is what is motivating me and that is to reach as many people suffering from mental health issues as possible. Anyone who is or has been in that dark hole that I know so well needs to know that there is a way back. It takes that little bit of strength and courage to face things and once you do you will realise that it's not as scary as we make it out to be in our own heads.

I really hope that if you are reading this and are not in a great place right now, you are not alone BUT things can get better. It's about controlling it, rather than letting it control you. I feel as though I lost four years of my late 20's and that is already too much. I'm not there yet but I'm on my way and music is a big part of my therapy.

If you are interested in hearing any of my music then feel free to follow the link below. I would love to hear back from anyone that would like to get in touch.

Natasha's Story: Mental Health & Podcasting

Six weeks into my first term of university I am hiding under my duvet, shaking, sweating, aching, and trying not to throw up - I feel like I'm about to die.I didn't know at the time, but this was my first real experience with a panic disorder. Imagine a full-blown panic attack that lasts not minutes, not hours, not even days, but weeks: it was pretty grim, to say the least.At that time, now eight years ago, I knew absolutely nothing about mental illness, it had never been mentioned in school, I wasn't aware I knew anyone else who was suffering and my total ignorance meant I genuinely believed I was all alone losing my mind and would need to be locked up Shutter Island style!

Perhaps if I'd had more information and been aware of what was happening to me and that it was relatively common, treatable and that I wouldn't feel the same way forever, things might not have spiralled to such a degree.
But without that knowledge and without quality health care (the university health centre and counselling service were not the best back then - at one point I was told 'ah your period must be due'), I felt completely stuck. Feeling petrified every waking moment, being unable to sleep, eat anything, think straight, interact with others or effectively function like a human, makes it impossible to go about your life. Long story short, I was forced to take time out of my studies, which at the time made me feel like a complete failure.

That feeling of failure, as the life I expected suddenly crumbled around me, paired with my first real break up and only a year after my parents had unexpectedly separated, allowed my constant panic to muddily merge with a new feeling - a deep, sticky, all consuming depression. I felt even more isolated and that I'd never get my life back on track, and to fast forward slightly, this eventually led me into a pattern of self-harming and a suicide attempt the day after my nineteenth birthday that left me semi-conscious in hospital for the best part of three days.

After this, I can't pretend I had a sudden wake-up call or anything, I was bitterly disappointed to still be alive because things still felt impossible and it hurt to see the pain I'd caused my family and close friends. I didn't undergo any particular treatment, I tried a few types of medication and went through a bad period of drinking too much and neglecting relationships, but very, very slowly, over the course of a year and a half, I began to feel more like myself again. To be completely honest I think at that point I just had to struggle forward until eventually, I was just about able to resume my studies and start to rebuild my life.

I wasn't suddenly cured of my panic disorder or depression and they continue to crop up again for weeks or months at a time. Since then I've had some really dark periods and in 2019 I actually went through quite a similar breakdown/relapse to what I experienced at 18, and ended up quitting a job in a very toxic environment.

But along the way, I began a vast learning curve, I went back to university a very different person with a very different outlook and threw myself into every mental health related event I came across. At the time one of the Students' Union Officers, took me under her wing a bit and was running some incredible projects around mental health with students. I shared my experiences, spoke at events, met more and more people who understood what I was talking about and had similar stories, and became passionate about campaigning for improved mental health support and raising awareness of how many people suffer in silence due to the stigma that surrounds mental illness.When I graduated I wanted to continue putting my experiences with mental illness to positive use in the hope of helping others, but it was a little harder without the student environment, so I continued to blog and write about mental health. When we were all thrown into a unique situation by COVID19 and forced to spend a lot of time at home, alone with our thoughts, I decided to bite the bullet and kickstart a project that I'd been mulling over but lacking the confidence to start for a long time.
I started the podcast 'Crazy Talk' (the name comes from attempting to reclaim the word 'crazy' often used very negatively), with the goal of exploring a new platform from which I could reach a bigger audience and connect those struggling with mental illness, with those who wanted to share their stories or offer advice. Sometimes simply hearing that someone else has experienced what you're going through, keeps you going, and if I'd had that eight years ago, I know things would have been a lot easier for me!

We are now in our second season, with our 18th guest and lots of lovely listeners across Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and other major platforms. Each episode a different guest shares their experience with mental illness whether that's BPD, depression, an eating disorder or PTSD, the guests have ranged enormously in terms of gender, sexuality, nationality, ethnicity and ability which has allowed many of our audience members to find really relatable content.My hope is that the podcast continues to grow and reach more people who could benefit from it, whilst helping to breakdown some of the stigma surrounding mental illness by putting it out in the open and showing that anyone can suffer with some form of mental illness. I'm always looking for more guests and more ways to share the work we've been doing so feel free to get in touch if you'd like to chat or find out more.

You can listen to the podcast here: https://anchor.fm/crazytalkpod
Or follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/natasha_barrett_/
or Twitter https://twitter.com/mufasabarrett?lang=en for new episode updates.

If you would like to read more personal stories of people's own experiences with anxiety, pop over to our page dedicated to this on The No Panic Website: Your Stories
Or perhaps you would like to share your story? We would love to hear from you. [email protected]

Participants needed for research investigating a new measure

of coping with pandemics.

What is this study about?

Kings College London are recruiting mental health service users to take part in a study exploring the acceptability, feasibility, reliability, and validity of a new measure that assesses coping during a pandemic. They would like to invite participants to take a questionnaire at two timepoints, one week apart. In this questionnaire, you will be asked a series of questions about how you have coped with the COVID-19 pandemic and about your current mental health. They would like to use this data to examine whether the coping strategies that people have employed during the COVID-19 pandemic correlate with mental health outcomes. This information will be invaluable in terms of informing their understanding of the impact of different coping strategies on mental health and may lead to better advice as to how to cope with the effects of social isolation, quarantine, and lockdown in future pandemics.

How do I get involved?

For more detail about the study and to take part, please go to: https://qualtrics.kcl.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_1U2EibIXoyU2tIW.
Contact [email protected] , for more information.

Have you checked out No Panic's YouTube channel? We are now adding videos on a regular basis. Some of our latest topics are 'Anxiety & Medication' and 'Can I go mad from anxiety?' In the next few weeks we will have plenty more on 'Agoraphobia', 'Anxiety in children and young people' and much, much more, so why not pop over there now and click on the bell to subscribe, that way you will automatically receive a notification each time we post a new video. No Panic's YouTube Channel If you would like to see a certain topic covered in future videos, please let us know. ⬇

Would you like to become a member of No Panic for just £25.00? Membership not only gives you access to all below, but helps others too as your subscription contributes to the running of all the services that we provide.

Discount on all our Support services including one-to-one mentoring and recovery groups

Access to our befriending group service and cosy coffee chats

Access to our member's only Facebook group

Access to our weekly support chat service

A year's subscription to our member's monthly support email

Optional access to and inclusion in our Contact Book

A discount in our online shop

A coupon on your birthday for 10% on any No Panic stock

20% off Lavender Products from Cotswold Lavender

A free copy of the Extended Beginner's Guide to Anxiety

A No Panic wristband

Hon. President: Professor Kevin Gournay CBE

Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C., Jeremy Dyson, Dorothy Grace Elder,

Kevin Jon, Professor Paul Šalkovskis, Professor Roz Shafran, Rita Simons,

Ruth Cooper-Dickson, Natasha Devon MBE, Annabel Giles

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Charity No Panic

51a Market Street,
Oakengates,
Telford,
Shropshire.
TF2 6EL

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N ational O rganisation for P hobias, A nxiety N euroses, I nformation & C are April is Stress Awareness month and to mark the occasion we have put in place a 30-Day Mental Wealth Challenge because; "Small steps in the right direction can turn out to be the biggest step of your life."

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by Karen Young

Anxiety and sleep have a complicated relationship. The part of the brain most sensitive to a lack of sleep is the amygdala (the 'anxiety' part of the brain) - but - juuuuust when brains and bodies are meant to be sliding into peaceful zzz's, anxiety shows up with party lights. Ugh. Brains won't feel calm without enough sleep, but anxiety gets in the way of 'enough sleep' - but we can fix that. Here are three ways to take the struggle out of sleep, and help kiddos and teens get plenty of peaceful pillow time - so you can too. Aaaahhh sleep. We love you, like, super love you.

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3 Ways to Stop Anxiety Stealing Sleep in Kids and Teens - Hey Sigmund

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Anxiety and sleep have a complicated relationship. The part of the brain most sensitive to a lack of sleep is the amygdala (the 'anxiety' part of the brain) - but - juuuuust when brains and bodies are meant to be sliding into peaceful zzz's, anxiety shows up with party lights.

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Mental fitness is all about the good management of good mental health. HeadFIT for Life helps defence people stay mentally fit and on top of their game.

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Commander's Guide to Cold Injury Ver 1.0

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An Individual's Guide to Cold Injury Ver 1.0

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Information for veterans with            hearing loss or tinnitus PDF.PDF

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346178__Defence People Health and Wellbeing guide for COVID-19

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Skip to main content

Togetherall believes no one should be excluded from instant access to mental health support from real people when they need it.

We're on a mission to make this a reality. With Togetherall, entire populations can have a safe place to connect, share and discuss w hat's on their mind with peers .

Our diverse community is active day and night, monitored and moderated 24/7 by licensed mental health practitioners.

Meet the team

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Skip to main content Togetherall believes no one should be excluded from instant access to mental health support from real people when they need it. We're on a mission to make this a reality. With Togetherall, entire populations can have a safe place to connect, share and discuss w hat's on their mind with peers .

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The World Health Organization (thanks to Alex for pointing out this definition) defines it as:

"Mental health is not just the absence of mental disorder. It is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community."

That's a pretty tall order. Who defines what the normal stresses are anyway? Daily life would be more accurate. I would also hope that work includes more than just your job - hobbies, passions, chores, etc.

Mind's booklet on How to improve mental wellbeing says good mental health is about your behaviour - what you do. It goes on to say that good mental health is when:

"You care about yourself and you care for yourself. You love yourself, not hate yourself. You look after your physical health - eat well, sleep well, exercise and enjoy yourself.

You see yourself as being a valuable person in your own right. You don't have to earn the right to exist. You exist, so you have the right to exist.

You judge yourself on reasonable standards. You don't set yourself impossible goals, such as 'I have to be perfect in everything I do', and then punish yourself when you don't reach those goals."

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What is mental health and mental wellbeing?

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The World Health Organization (thanks to Alex for pointing out this definition) defines it as: "Mental health is not just the absence of mental disorder. It is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community."

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Identifying Stress | Coronavirus Support | British Army

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In this section:

Asking for help

Mental health is a complex issue, and it can be difficult to know where to turn in times of crisis. On this page you can find information about a variety of military and civilian services that offer help and advice or signpost you to the most appropriate source of help. Don't forget, you can always speak to your mates, friends or family, talk to your boss or padre, chat to your unit welfare staff, medical officer or GP.

When times get tough, it can help to speak with people you trust: your mates, friends and family; your boss or padre; your unit welfare staff; or your medical officer or GP.

Ask for Help

Suicide Prevention-Our Role

Emphasise seeking help in times of distress displays courage, strength, responsibility, and good judgement.

A-ASK Do not be afraid to ask someone if they are thinking about suicide.

I-INTERVENE Taking no action is not an option if a person's life is at stake.

D-DISCLOSE Everyone can help.

Ask for Help

Mindfulness

Put simply, mindfulness is the art of living in the present moment - not worrying about the past or future, but instead paying attention to your thoughts and feelings and the surrounding environment. Associated with many health benefits, mindfulness can help combat anxiety, depression and sleep problems.

The Army's Mindfulness Course is available to all serving personnel. Although the course is eight weeks long, it has been designed so that you can go at your own pace.

Find out more

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In this section: Mental health is a complex issue, and it can be difficult to know where to turn in times of crisis. On this page you can find information about a variety of military and civilian services that offer help and advice or signpost you to the most appropriate source of help.

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Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Some HeadFIT tools involve going outside or spending time with other people but, for now, please use the tools in line with the latest Government guidelines on the Coronavirus. The most important action we can all take in fighting Coronavirus is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.

Hide message

What is
HeadFIT for Life?

Mental fitness is all about the good management of good mental health.

HeadFIT for Life helps defence people stay mentally fit and on top of their game...

At work and at home.

For every Headfit tool we ask you to...

Stop

Get off autopilot and refocus on what you are feeling and thinking.

Challenge

Are your thoughts and feelings really working for you?

Change

Choose a different way of thinking and behaving so you can achieve your goals.

© 2020 The Royal Foundation. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Reject Read More

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Some HeadFIT tools involve going outside or spending time with other people but, for now, please use the tools in line with the latest Government guidelines on the Coronavirus. The most important action we can all take in fighting Coronavirus is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.

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Be Informed.

Search for information about a drug.

Drugs and Sexual Assault

Whether at a bar, at a party, or even at a "friend's" home - drug-facilitated sexual assault can happen to anyone at any time. It's important that the young people in your life understand the danger, and are aware of the facts to protect themselves from becoming victims.

Read more.

Take Back Day is Postponed

The DEA Prescription Drug Take Back Day originally scheduled for April 25, 2020 has been postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Read more.

'Sober' Apps

From tracking sober days, to providing professional support and stress reduction techniques, smartphone apps are a new and interactive way to help people in recovery.

Check out a few apps.

Tools for a Virtual Classroom

From virtual field trips, to interactive lessons, Operation Prevention has many online resources available to teach your teens about opioids and the science behind addiction.

Learn more about them.

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Search for information about a drug. Whether at a bar, at a party, or even at a "friend's" home - drug-facilitated sexual assault can happen to anyone at any time. It's important that the young people in your life understand the danger, and are aware of the facts to protect themselves from becoming victims. Read more.

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A message from Martin
Be under no illusions. Mental health problems can cause severe debt, and severe debt can cause mental health problems. Debt isn't just a financial problem, it causes relationships to break up, people to lose their homes and families to break down. No matter who you are, it can be hell. For many living with mental health issues, debt is a common problem. My usual line is we should focus on being responsible borrowers, as you can't expect lenders to be responsible - their job is flogging debt. A few years ago, I had my eyes opened. A man came up to thank me for the MoneySavingExpert.com website. I asked him if he'd saved much money, and his answer surprised me: "I don't use it for myself. I'm a mental health case worker, and almost every one of my clients has debt issues. It's tough for them to control many areas of their life. I use your site to help them sort through their problems." This is the crux. How do we help those who are unable to be responsible for themselves? It is not always easy to be responsible for yourself - and the easy credit years created a potential disaster scenario. Since then I've heard that story echoed time and time again. I pitched the idea to TV outlets several times, only to be told it doesn't resonate with enough people. That's wrong. Many people have either had issues or have a family member who has. Yet it's not right to simply stop anyone with mental health issues getting credit. Often issues are temporary, and, even if not, debt isn't bad, bad debt is bad. A rational decision to borrow cheaply is fine. Mortgages, student loans and more are an integral part of the modern financial world. While describing the problem is easy, the solutions aren't. I wish I could promise this guide will solve them. It won't, though it should help make things easier to understand and deal with.

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Be under no illusions. Mental health problems can cause severe debt, and severe debt can cause mental health problems. Debt isn't just a financial problem, it causes relationships to break up, people to lose their homes and families to break down. No matter who you are, it can be hell.

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Free Gym Membership for Armed Forces Veterans with  PTSD 

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Free Gym Membership for Armed Forces Veterans with  PTSD 

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Armed Forces veterans with PTSD are being offered free gym membership by The former Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne - who has called on the Government to do more to help military personnel.

The 70-year-old, who served in the Royal Navy of six years after joining aged 16, also put his money where his mouth is - by offering free gym memberships at all 72 Bannatyne Health Clubs to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Duncan told the Sunday People: "I truly believe our armed forces are the best in the world. I think they do an amazing job and the bravery that comes with doing the job they do is outstanding.

"If I can help in a small way such as giving a free membership to help combat PTSD, then I am more than happy to do that.

"It is something that is very dear to me."

Veterans' charities say Duncan Bannatyne's amazing generosity could save the lives of our neglected heroes.

Former Royal Marine Jeff Williams, of Veterans United Against Suicide, said: "I would love the opportunity to shake Duncan's hand in a display of respect from the veterans' community. This is exactly the type of initiative the veterans' community needs.

"If there is a better way of banishing PTSD I don't know what it is.

"Sport and physical fitness are vital for good mental health. For veterans suffering from PTSD this could be a real life-saver and that is no exaggeration."

How to apply

Five free memberships, lasting a year, will be given at each of Duncan's 72 clubs nationwide. The memberships will be issued on a first-come-first-served basis. Those who apply may be asked to show proof of their military history and details of their diagnosis. Unfortunately,

The gyms retain the right to make a final decision on who receives memberships.

To apply please email: veterans@bannatyne.co.uk

Charities can also make contact on behalf of veterans they support.

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Armed forces veterans with PTSD offered free gym

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Armed Forces veterans with PTSD are being offered free gym membership by The former Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne - who has called on the Government to do more to help ­military personnel.

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Pregnancy and Maternity - Chain of Command and Line Managers

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Pregnancy and Maternity - Chain of Command and Line Managers

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20180109-Pregnancy and Maternity - Chain of Command and Line Managers V3

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Pregnancy and Maternity - Servicewoman's Guide

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Pregnancy and Maternity - Servicewoman's Guide

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0082 - Veterans Mental Health A5 Leaflet V4

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Find out about NHS mental health services for military veterans

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As part of a pharmacy's Terms of Service, pharmacy staff must ask any person who makes a declaration that the patient is exempt from paying a prescription charge to produce satisfactory evidence of such entitlement. The legislative requirement is set out in paragraph 7 of the Terms of Service, which is available to view here.

Where appropriate, pharmacy staff should advise patients of the required certificates and how they might go about obtaining them (e.g. Medical Exemption Certificates required for patients suffering from diabetes, epilepsy etc. as well as exemption certificates on maternity grounds, low income, or Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPC)).

If a patient is unsure whether they are entitled to free prescriptions, pharmacy staff should advise the patient to pay for their prescription and provide them with an FP57 Refund form with information on how to claim a refund at a later date. Further information for patients can be found at www.nhs.uk/healthcosts.

If a valid certificate of exemption has been shown, for example a medical exemption certificate or pre-payment certificate, and noted on the PMR along with the certificate's expiry date, it is not necessary to ask the patient to show proof again within the validity of that certificate. Patients claiming exemption because they receive Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based) should be asked to provide their evidence of entitlement on each occasion.

Where patients do not have evidence or where there is doubt over whether the evidence provided is appropriate, the "Evidence not Seen" box on the back of the prescription should be marked with an X by pharmacy staff. Pharmacy staff need not refuse to dispense items on the basis that the patient does not provide evidence of their entitlement to free prescriptions.

NHS fraud checking notification

On 1 July 2016, pharmacy contractors will be required by their Terms of Service, before supplying the drug or appliance, to advise the person claiming exemption from payment of NHS prescription charges - where evidence is required but not provided - that NHS checks are routinely undertaken to verify that such persons are exempt from payment of NHS prescription charges, as part of arrangements for preventing or detecting fraud or error. It is up to pharmacy teams how this is done but it must be in "appropriate terms". The PSNC Briefing 032/16: NHS fraud checking notification (June 2016) includes our tips of key things to consider to make compliance with this new requirement a matter of routine.

Patient requirements

Pharmacy contractors are in no way responsible for the accuracy of a patient's declaration; this remains the responsibility of the patient. NHS Protect have a responsibility to check for prescription charge exemption fraud and patients found to have wrongly claimed for free prescriptions, could face a penalty charge and in some cases prosecution. This applies even where the patient has a medical condition which qualifies for exemption, if the patient does not have a valid exemption certificate on the date the patient is asked to pay or complete the exemption declaration.

Exemption categories and proof required

Age exempt
Children under 16 years of age and men and women aged 60 years and over are entitled to exemption.

If the patient is exempt for this reason and their date of birth is computer generated on the prescription or included in the electronic prescription message, the patient is not required to complete the exemption declaration and no evidence is required. If the date of birth is hand-written or not computer printed on the prescription, the patient must complete the exemption declaration. Evidence that could be shown includes a passport, birth certificate, or any other official papers showing the patient's name and date of birth. For children under 16, if the child is obviously under 16, no evidence is required.

N/A

Full-time Students aged 16, 17 or 18
Must be aged 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education. Full-time education means you must be receiving full-time instruction from a recognised educational establishment, such as a school, college or university; therefore apprenticeships are not eligible. (However patients may qualify for a HC2 certificate under the NHS Low Income Scheme)

Evidence that should be shown is proof of the patient's date of birth (see above) and proof that the patient is a full-time student (e.g. Student Card or letter from school/college).

Proof can be obtained from the patient's school, college, university or local education authority (LEA).

Patients who have a valid Maternity Exemption Certificate
Pregnant women and those who have had a baby in the last 12 months get free prescriptions if they have a valid Maternity Exemption Certificate.

A patient in receipt of a Maternity Exemption Certificate who has a miscarriage, abortion/termination of pregnancy or stillborn birth is entitled to use their Maternity Exemption Certificate for NHS Prescriptions until the certificate expires.

Patients are required to complete a FW8 form available from GPs, Midwives and health visitors. The GP, Midwife or Health professional is required to sign the form and send it off to the Pricing Authority who will issue the certificate. More information is available on their website.

Patients who have a valid Medical Exemption Certificate
To claim exemption under this category, it is necessary for the patient to have a valid medical exemption certificate, not simply a medical condition.

The list of conditions which would entitle a patient to a medical exemption certificate can be found in Part XVI of the Drug Tariff. Medical exemption certificates are typically, although not uniformly valid for 5 years. Note: a medical exemption certificate is always required - the fact that a patient has one of the qualifying conditions is not sufficient to claim entitlement to exemption from the charge.

Patients are required to complete a FP92A form which is available from GP surgeries. The GP is required to sign the form and send it off to the Pricing Authority who will issue the certificate. More information is available on their website.

Patients who have a valid Prescription Pre-payment Certificate (PPC)
Anyone can purchase a PPC.

Appropriate evidence of exemption would be the certificate itself. Note: Patients may backdate their PPC up to one month from the date that they apply. If the patient intends to buy a PPC, they should be asked to pay for their prescription, provided with the FP57 Receipt and advised on how to obtain a refund. (Pharmacies can obtain copies of Form FP95 PPC application leaflet from their local NHS England team). The cost of prescription prepayment certificates is currently £29.10 for 3 months or £104.00 for 12 months.

Patients can obtain a prescription pre-payment certificate by completing a FP95 form which is available from pharmacies and doctors surgeries. Pharmacies can obtain copies of the FP95 form from their local NHS England team.

Alternatively, patients can order a PPC over the telephone with a credit or debit card (0300 0330 1341) or from the NHSBSA website.

The Pricing Authority is responsible for issuing Prescription Pre-payment Certificates. More information is available on their website.

The patient is named on a current HC2 Charges Certificate
Anyone on a low income can apply to get this certificate.

Appropriate evidence of exemption would be the certificate itself. Patients who are not entitled to help with health costs under any other category may apply for help under the NHS Low Income Scheme.

Patients may claim for help with health costs under the NHS Low Income Scheme using the HC1 form, obtainable from Jobcentre Plus Office or by calling 0300 330 1343. HC1 forms may also be available from the local hospital, dentist, optician or GP surgery. Pharmacies can obtain copies of Form HC1 by calling 3M Supplies on 0300 123 0849 Option 1.

The Pricing Authority administer the NHS Low Income Scheme, more information is available on their website.

The patient or his/her Partner is entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS Tax Credit (TC) Exemption Certificate
Not all patients receiving tax credits are entitled to free prescriptions - those patients that are entitled are automatically sent an ' NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate ' by the Pricing Authority.

Appropriate proof of exemption would be the NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate.

Exemption certificates are sent automatically to eligible patients. Patients who are unsure as to whether they are entitled to help with health costs via tax credits, can contact HM Revenue and Customs for support: 0345 300 3900.

The Patient or his/her Partner is receiving Income Support (IS)
Exemption certificates are
sent automatically to eligible
patients.

Note some letters and documents issued by the DWP about income support, while relating to the patient (or their partner) do not show dates of entitlement therefore these are not acceptable evidence. An entitlement letter from the Jobcentre Plus Office would be appropriate evidence of exemption.

Patients can speak to their Jobcentre Plus Office.

People Receiving Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Note there are two types of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), income based and contribution based. Only receipt of income based JSA entitles patients to free prescriptions.

JSA is paid by giro cheque or BACS two weeks in arrears so patients may not have evidence. A letter from the DSS/patient's local Job Centre Plus Office that states their entitlement would be appropriate evidence. The letter must confirm that the patient was entitled to free prescriptions on the date the patient completed the exemption declaration.

Patients can speak to their Jobcentre Plus Office.

Universal Credit (UC)
As part of the government's changes to the benefit system, UC is a new benefit introduced from April 2013. Those receiving this benefit will be eligible for free prescriptions.

A valid UC award letter bearing their name
(either as the recipient or because they are
a partner or child of the recipient) is
appropriate proof; they should sign to
declare their exemption and will need to
tick the box for "income based
Jobseeker's Allowance".

Please see our page on Universal Credit update or further information can be found here.

The Patient or his/her Partner is getting Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (PCGC)
Those in receipt of PCGC.

A letter from the DSS/patient's local Job Centre Plus Office would be appropriate proof. The letter must confirm that the patient was entitled to free prescriptions on the date the patient completed the exemption declaration.

Patients can speak to their Jobcentre Plus Office.

The Patient is a War Pensioner holding a War Pension Exemption Certificate and the Prescription is for the Accepted Disablement
Those holding a War Pension Exemption Certificate.

Appropriate proof of exemption would be a war pension exemption certificate.

Patients can apply for a war pension exemption certificate by writing to The Veterans Agency, Norcross, Blackpool FY5 3WP. or telephoning 0800 169 2277.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Only patients receiving the income related strand of ESA will be entitled to free prescriptions.

The patient should be able to provide evidence in the form of a DWP award notice.

Patients can speak to their Jobcentre Plus Office.

Prisoners on Release
Prisoners on release and those released from secure
accommodation (secure accommodation is defined as a court, a secure training centre or a secure children's home) who present an FP10 or FP10 (MDA).

The letters 'HMP', and the prison or secure accommodation address and telephone number must be printed in the box provided for the practice address on the front of the form, along with the prescribing code and the cost centre code for the organisation.

N/A

Ineligible reasons for exemption

PSNC sometimes receives queries about the following criteria and we would just like to clarify that these reasons are NOT eligible for exemption from prescription charges in England:

Those receiving incapacity benefit or the contribution based Jobseeker's allowance.

Asylum seekers - they are instead supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) who will automatically send an NHS Low Income Scheme HC2 certificate which entitles them to full help with help costs including free prescriptions. Alternatively patients can apply for support using the HC1 application form.

EPS exemption status to be entered onto each electronic prescription

In addition to the current endorsing information, pharmacy staff will also have to mark whether a prescription charge was levied for a prescription, and where relevant the prescription charge exemption category and whether evidence of exemption was seen. The exception to this is where the patient is age exempt and the patient's date of birth is included in the electronic prescription message.

Pharmacy system suppliers have flexibility in the way they support pharmacists in entering this information, for instance if pharmacy staff have already recorded the details of a valid exemption certificate, e.g. a pre-payment certificate, the system could be set to pre-populate this information on the system - the pharmacy would still be required to collect the patients exemption declaration on the prescription or dispensing token where required.

See more at our EPS exemption page or in the factsheet below:

Contraceptives

Part XVI, Clause 10 of the Drug Tariff sets out the arrangements for charging of contraceptives.

Prescriptions for the following items are automatically exempt from prescription charges:

spermicidal gels, creams, films and aerosols

systemic contraceptive preparations listed in Part XVI

contraceptive devices listed in Part IXA of the Drug Tariff.

However, there are some products, such as Co-cyprindiol 2000mcg/35mcg tablets, which whilst they do not appear in Part XVI, are sometimes used for contraceptive purposes. In this scenario, if the doctor has endorsed the prescription with "CC", "OC" or the female symbol (♀) to make it clear that the item is for contraceptive use, the patient should not incur a prescription charge.

Where to find information about patient charge exemption certificates

FP57 forms

See page Where to obtain external resources

NHS Low Income Scheme

NHS Help with Health Costs: 0300 330 1343 or 0191 279 0565

Prescription pre-payment certificates (PPC)

The Pricing Authority: 0300 330 1341 or 0191 279 0563

Medical and Maternity exemption certificates

The Pricing Authority: 0300 330 1341 or 0191 279 0563

NHS Tax Exemption Certificate

NHS Help with Health Costs: 0300 330 1347 or 0191 279 0567

HC1 (low income scheme) details and related forms

See page Where to obtain external resources

Prescription Exemption Checking Service

NHS Prescription Exemption Checking Service: 0300 330 9291

You can also visit the Help with Health Costs website here.
FAQs
Q. Are young people aged 16, 17 or 18 on apprenticeships automatically exempt from prescription charges?
No. Whilst there is an exemption for those who are 16, 17 or 18 in full-time education, NHS Help with Health Costs have confirmed that apprenticeships do not qualify for free prescriptions. Full-time education means you must be receiving full-time instruction from a recognised educational establishment, such as a school, college or university.

However patients aged 16, 17 and 18 undertaking an apprenticeship who are on a low income are able to apply for help with their health costs using the HC1 form. If they are successful with their application, they will receive an HC2 certificate which would entitle the patient to receive free prescriptions.

More information on Help with Healthcare costs is available here.
Q. I have a prescription for a patient who was 59 when his prescription was written: however, the patient did not handover the prescription to be dispensed until they were 60. Is the patient age exempt from paying a prescription charge?
Yes, subject to the prescription still being within the period of validity. The reverse of a prescription says that entitlement to prescription exemption is based on the patient's circumstances on the day they are asked to pay. In this case, as the patient was over 60 when they entered the pharmacy to have their prescription dispensed, they would therefore be age exempt from paying a prescription charge.

For paper prescriptions, where the patient's age is shown on the front of the prescription as "59" they would not be age exempt, unless their 60th birthday has taken place between the time of being provided with the prescription and making their declaration of exemption. The patient should sign the back of the prescription form to declare that they are indeed over the age of 60 on the day they are asked to pay.

For EPS prescriptions, your EPS system may auto-suggest an exemption category but you may need to override this, e.g. systems might use the date the Dispense Notiﬁcation (DN) was sent and compare this with the patient's:

date of birth; or

certiﬁcate validity period recorded into the PMR.

However, the date the DN was sent may be diﬀerent to the date the patient was asked to pay, causing the need to override the exemption category suggested by the system. Please note: The printed patient's 'age' on a prescription token or dispensing token may show the age at the time of the printing.

You can check the paid/exemption category currently applied onto an electronic prescription using your PMR system.

For further information on EPS exemptions, see psnc.org.uk/epsexemption
Q. A person has presented a prescription and made a declaration that they are exempt from paying a prescription charge. I have asked them to produce satisfactory evidence of such entitlement, but they do not have it with them. Do I need to do anything else apart from ticking the "evidence not seen" box on the prescription?
Yes. From 1st July 2016, the Terms of Service are amended to require pharmacy contractors, before supplying the drug or appliance, to advise the person who has been asked to provide the evidence of entitlement to exemption that NHS checks are routinely undertaken to verify that persons are exempt from payment of NHS prescription charges as part of the relevant arrangements for preventing or detecting fraud or error.
Q. How can I use my PMR system to check and amend EPS Release 2 exemptions to avoid switches and payment issues?

You can check the paid/exemption category currently applied onto an electronic prescription using your PMR system.

PMR systems should assist users by (1) preventing prescriptions being sent to the Pricing Authority unless an exemption category option has been selected; and/or (2) where needed, asking whether either, the 'paid' status is right, or, if instead, the category needs adjusting.

EPS prescriptions should also be able to have their exemption status amended at any time after claim notification has been sent, and the EPS prescription has been sent to the Pricing Authority, as long as the prescription's relevant '5th of the month' pricing deadline has not passed (see EPS five day window logic). NHS Digital has made amendments to the Spine to allow this functionality to be implemented and one PMR system already has this functionality available to users according to NHS Digital information.

For further information on EPS exemptions, see psnc.org.uk/epsexemption

Related resources
Dispensing Factsheet: Checking Prescription Exemption Status EPS exemption Prescription charge refunds What does the patient pay? Prescription Charge Card and Multi Charge Card Is this prescription form valid? Who can prescribe what? Controlled Drug prescription forms and validity How to identify prescriber codes
Prescription form section of the Pricing Authority's website (external)

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QUICK LINKS REF: Drug Tariff Part XVI EPS exemption Switching Prescription Charge Refunds As part of a pharmacy's Terms of Service, pharmacy staff must ask any person who makes a declaration that the patient is exempt from paying a prescription charge to produ

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Tell us more

What do you want to tell us about?

Note:

Please don't include personal details like your name or email address. If you do, data protection law means we'll have to delete your comments.

Unfortunately we can't reply to this. If you want a response from us, see our Contact us page.

If you are in crisis right now and want to talk to someone urgently then you could call Samaritans on 116 123 (freephone). Our pages on crisis services have more options.

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Tell us more What do you want to tell us about? Note: Please don't include personal details like your name or email address. If you do, data protection law means we'll have to delete your comments. Unfortunately we can't reply to this. If you want a response from us, see our Contact us page.

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673_NHS Veterans' Mental Health leaflet  FINAL online.pdf

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Read practical tips and advice on what to do if you're struggling with stress

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North Yorkshire Horizons - Adult Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service. We're rated Outstanding by the CQC. Call us on 01723 330730

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Adult Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service. We're rated Outstanding by the CQC. Call us on 01723 330730

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NHS Healthcare for Amed Forces Community

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NHS Healthcare for Amed Forces Community

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Healthcare for the armed forces community - NHS Choices

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Healthcare information and support for the UK's 10 million-strong armed forces community, serving personnel, reservists, families and veterans.