HEALTH

The Primary Care Trust is responsible for providing all the health services in the Hambleton/Richmondshire area. The North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust can be contacted at The Hamlet, Hornbeam Park, Harrogate, HG2 8RE  Tel: 01423 876407.

A learning disability may, in some cases, be diagnosed at birth, but very often it is through a parent, GP or Health Visitor noticing a developmental delay, e.g. difficulties in communication, walking, learning etc.  Some children will never have a specific diagnosis.  Whatever the situation, specialist services are available to help.
 

LOCAL SERVICES

GP – FAMILY DOCTOR

Your family doctor or general practitioner will usually be your first contact for any medical problems.  You may have difficulties taking your child or an adult dependant to the surgery.  If this is the case your doctor may be prepared to make a home visit or some other special arrangement.  It is a good idea to discuss any potential difficulties with your doctor, before a crisis or emergency arises, so that all concerned have an understanding of the situation.

If you are unhappy with your family doctor, it is possible to change, providing you can find a doctor within a seven-mile radius of your home who will accept you as his patient.
 

PRESCRIPTIONS

These are free to children under 16 years, people under 19 years in full-time education, people over sixty, people receiving Income Support, Working Family Tax Credit or Disability Living Allowance or who suffer from some specific medical conditions.

If you have a specified condition or are housebound with a continuing physical disability or qualify under the low-income scheme, you can apply for exemption from prescription charges.

If you or anyone in your family needs regular medication on prescription, which is not exempt from charge, you may be able to save money by buying a prepayment certificate.  This acts as a “season ticket” – you buy one for a four or twelve-month period, during which time there are no further prescription charges, no matter how many items you need.  You can get a Form FP95, which gives the current details and charges from your GP’s surgery (see leaflet HC11QG).