Health services for children and young people
General Practitioner (GP)/Doctor
GP surgeries are usually the first contact if you have a health problem. GPs can provide health advice, treatments and refer on to other NHS services.
Anyone in England can register for free with a GP surgery to access NHS services.
Find a GP on the NHS website by searching by postcode.
Mencap have created the following easy read leaflets to help you get support from your GP surgery:
- Getting help when visiting the doctor (PDF, 1.1 MB)
- How to join the learning disability register (PDF, 2.2 MB)
- Getting a health check each year (PDF, 2.6 MB)
- How to ask your GP surgery to make things easier for you (reasonable adjustments) (PDF, 2.5 MB)
If you are not sure what to do or what healthcare service you may need, NHS 111 can help. Check your symptoms on 111 online.
If you are in a life-threatening emergency, call 999 and speak to the ambulance service. View reporting incidents, accidents, and emergencies for more information.
Dentist
A dentist is a healthcare professional who specialises in teeth, gums, and the mouth. When you visit an NHS dentist, they will look at your mouth, teeth and gums and advise you how to look after them.
Search for an NHS dentist by postcode.
If you need treatment to improve the look of crooked, crowded teeth or treatment to correct problems with the bite of the teeth, your dentist may refer you for orthodontic treatment (usually with braces).
View Katrina’s easy read story of going to the dentist (PDF, 1.2 MB) including booking an appointment, talking about reasonable adjustments, attending the appointment and when to go back for the next appointment.
Health and care passports
The health and care passport (PDF, 1.5 MB) is designed to be a quick and easy way to give health and social care professionals more information about you to help them provide right care and treatment. It should help them understand what reasonable adjustments they should make for you and how to communicate effectively so your voice is always heard.