Disclaimer

All links on this site are provided for information and convenience only. We cannot accept responsibility for any of the sites linked to, or the information found there. A link does not imply an endorsement of a site; likewise, not linking to a particular site does not imply lack of endorsement.

60+ Tendring
Local site for the over 60s in the Tendring area.

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Action on Elder Abuse
Raises awareness, education, promotes research and the collection and dissemination of information for the prevention of, and action on, the abuse of older people.

After Cancer
This website gives cancer patients more information about handling the side effects of hormonal drugs.

Age Concern England
The UK's largest charity working with and for older people.

Al-Anon Family Groups
Offers understanding and support for families and friends of problem drinkers.

Alcoholics Anonymous
Voluntary fellowship of men and women who help each other achieve and maintain sobriety.

Alzheimer's Society
Gives support to families and others concerned.

Association for Post-Natal Illness
Offers advice, information and support to mothers suffering from post-natal illness.

atdementia
This website aims to provide user-friendly information about assistive technology for people with dementia.

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BackCare
The charity for healthier backs.

Barnardo's
Services provide family support, residential and day care, fostering and adoption services, respite care and short breaks, parenting education and support, children's rights and schemes for those affected by homelessness and child sexual abuse.

Breast Cancer Care
Provides information, practical assistance and emotional support for anyone affected by breast cancer.

Breathe Easy
A support group affiliated to the British Lung Foundation.

Bristol Crisis Service for Women
National charity offering support to women, with a particular focus on self-injury (often called self-harm).

British Pregnancy Advisory Service
Offers information, counselling, treatment and a range of services linked with unwanted pregnancy and contraception.

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Cancer Screening
The NHS Cancer Screening Programmes.

Cancer Services Collaborative 'Improvement Partnership'
A national NHS-funded programme designed to drive improvements in the way cancer services are delivered to patients.

Care Confidential
Offers confidential advice if facing an unplanned pregnancy or dealing with post abortion concerns.

Care Homes - Find the right one
This webite provides access to thousands of care homes, with practical advice, support and helpful information with photographs.

Care Services Improvement Partnership
Aims to work in partnership with local health and social care communities throughout Eastern region.

Carers Direct
General information, advice and support for carers.

Carers Direct: money advice
Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring.

Carers Direct: time off
As a carer it's important to take time to look after yourself. Get advice on keeping fit and healthy.

Carers Direct: bereavement
Bereavement care and support are now being routinely offered to all carers, family and close friends

Carers Direct: carers' assessments
Most carers have a legal right to an assessment of their own needs.  Find out more.

Carers Direct: young carers
This area of the site is for young people who are caring for someone who is ill or disabled.

Carers UK
A membership organisation of carers that campaigns to improve recognition, services and support for carers and provides information and advice for carers and professionals working with carers.

Childline
Free help line for children and young people in trouble or danger.

Choose and Book
Introducing a new service that allows you to choose your hospital or clinic and book an appointment with a specialist.

Chlamydia information from NHS Choices
Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection among under-25s. Often there are no symptoms, but testing and treatment are simple.

Cocaine Anonymous
A fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other so that they may solve their common problem and help others recover from their addiction.

Colchester 2020 Partnership
A local partnership - involving the local community.

Colchester Borough Council

Colchester Community Voluntary Services
An independent, charitable organisation whose aim is to promote effective community service and activity in the Colchester area.

Colchester Mind
Colchester Mind was established in 1985, and is the leading mental health voluntary organisation for Colchester and the surrounding area.

Colchester PPI Forum
Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forums are made up of groups of volunteers in the local community who are enthusiastic about helping patients and members of the public influence the way that local healthcare is organised and delivered.

Commission for Patient & Public Involvement in Health
This is an independent, non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department of Health. Its remit is to ensure that the public is involved in decision making about health and health services...

Commissioning a Patient-Led NHS - a public consultation

Contact the Elderly
Organises gatherings for frail, elderly people who live alone.

Contraception advice from NHS Choices
Find out about the 15 methods of contraception, where to get them and how to decide what's right for you.

Counselling Directory
This website is a support network of UK counsellors and psychotherapists, with information on their training and experience, areas of counselling covered, fees and contact details. This service is free, confidential and easy to use.

Cruse Bereavement Care
Promotes the well-being of bereaved people and to enable anyone bereaved by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss.

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Deafblind UK
Provides a central representative focus and voice for deafblind adults within the UK.

Department of Health
The Department of Health’s aim is to improve the health and well being of people in England. Here you will find the latest on the Department's work, as well as health and social care guidance, publications and policy.

Depression Alliance
Provides information, support and understanding for those affected by depression and their carers.

Directgov
Contains lots of useful information on government disability services.

Disability Essex
A charity dedicated to enable people with any disability to control their own lives and enjoy to the full the opportunities which society, the economy and the environment offer.

Do you want to stop smoking?

Drugscope
UK's national drug information charity. Focuses on knowledge gaps. Comprehensive library and range of publications cover all aspects of this subject and are designed to meet the needs of professionals and policymaking.

dysTalk
dysTalk is an information-sharing social enterprise for parents of children who are looking for information on how to optimise their child's learning. dysTalk provides information on specific learning difficulties that may be undermining a child's performance as well as learning strategies that can potentially be applied to all children of all abilities.

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East of England Strategic Health Authority
Oversees and supports the work of primary care, hospital, ambulance, and mental health trusts in the East of England.

Eastern Region Public Health Observatory
Improving access to population health data, methods and expertise

Eating Disorder Association
Provides information, help and support for people affected by eating disorders.

Emergency Planning
See our 'Emergency Planning' page for useful information.

Endometriosis UK
Supports women living with endometriosis.

Essex Cardiac Network
The Essex Cardiac Network is an NHS funded initiative designed to make improvements in the way coronary heart disease services are delivered to patients.

Essex Council for Voluntary Services
Contains links and details of all Essex Community Voluntary Services.

Essex County Council

Essex County Council - Advocacy Link
Advocacy is taking action to help people say what they want, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain services they need.

Essex Health Protection Unit
This is the website of the Essex Health Protection team

Essex Mums
For sharing information, experiences and stories of life as a parent in Essex.

Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust
This is hospital trust comprising Colchester General Hospital and Essex County Hospital.

Essex University

Ethnicity and Health Specialist Library
The best currently available evidence about the specific needs of health care for minority ethnic groups.

Expert Patients Programme
If you live with a long-term illness, why not take control by becoming an Expert Patient?

Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society
Specialises in the care of ex-Servicemen and women of all ranks discharged from the armed Services and Merchant Navy who suffer from psychological problems.

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Families Anonymous
Provides support if you have reason to believe or even a vague suspicion that someone close to you may have a drug problem.

Families Need Fathers
National organisation helping parents and children keep in contact.

Family Planning Association
Provides a confidential advice service and information on all aspects of contraception, abortion and sexual health.

Family Rights Group
National voluntary organisation that advocates for the welfare of children who are in contact with social services from a family centred perspective.

Family Service Units
National charity with community-based units throughout the UK. They provide a range of services aimed at alleviating the worst effects of social exclusion and poverty on children and families.

Family Welfare Association
Provides support to some of the poorest families in the country. Provides grants as well as social work support to people of all ages, working with them to help them solve their own problems.

First Signs
An online, user-lead voluntary organisation, founded in 2002, to raise awareness about self-injury and provide information and support to people of all ages affected by self-injury.

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Gamblers Anonymous
Self-help fellowship for compulsive gamblers who have a desire to stop gambling.

Gingerbread
An organisation for lone parent families.

Glaucoma Association, International
A comprehensive source of up-to-date news and information about glaucoma.

Guide2Care
Guide2Care is aimed at people looking for help and advice for care of the elderly and adults with learning difficulties.

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Headway - The Brain Injury Association
Provides information, support and services to people with head injuries, their families and carers.

Health Development Agency
The Health Development Agency (HDA) identifies the evidence of what works to improve people's health and reduce health inequalities. It advises and supports policy makers and practitioners, helping them to get evidence into practice.

Health Encyclopedia from NHS Direct
An alphabetical Health Encylcopedia

Healthline
Search the web's best health sites.

Help the Aged
Works to improve the quality of life of older people and to support their independence.

Home-Start
Local schemes throughout the UK offering regular support, friendship and practical help to families with at least one child under five.

Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority
Considering IVF? Free, independent guide to your fertility treatment options and UK clinics

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Immunisation Information
For information about immunisations / vaccinations and related enquiries

InterAct
Provides training, resources, experience and support to those recovering from mental illness and to adults and transition aged youngsters with learning difficulties.

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Long Term Medical Conditions Alliance
This is the umbrella body for national voluntary organisations working to meet the needs of people with long-term health conditions.

Lupus UK
A site intended for healthcare professionals as a useful source of information on the diagnosis, treatment and support of patients with lupus and related connective tissue diseases.

Lupus UK - public site
This site is intended to inform the public about this disease and to offer help and support to sufferers.

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MacMillan Cancer Relief
Helps people who are living with cancer.

Man Matters
An information and advice service about erection problems.

Manic Depression Fellowship
Provides support, advice and information for people with manic depression, their families, friends and carers.

Marie Curie Cancer Care
Provides high quality nursing, totally free, to give people with terminal cancer and other illnesses the choice of dying at home, supported by their families.

Marriage Care
Helps people to prepare for, achieve and sustain successful marriages and to support them should their marriages break down.

Maternity Alliance
National charity working to end inequality and promote the well being of all pregnant women, new parents and their babies.

Medical Advisory Service
If you have an anxiety or query regarding a health care issue, MAS can guide you in the right direction to obtain the care or help you might need.

Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture
Provides survivors of torture with medical treatment, social assistance and psychotherapeutic support.

Mencap
UK's leading charity for people with learning disabilities and their families and carers.

MIND
Works for a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress.

Miscarriage Association
Support network for sufferers of miscarriage.

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Narcotics Anonymous
Association of recovering drug addicts.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
NICE is an independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health.

National NHS Website
This is the official gateway to National Health Service organisations on the
Internet

National Phobics Society
Self-help organisation run entirely by sufferers of anxiety disorders and their carers.

NCH Action for Children
Charity running projects mostly in partnership with local health and education authorities.

NELH - Electronic Library for Health

NetDoctor
A collaboration between committed doctors, health care professionals, information specialists and patients who believe that medical practice should be based on quality-assessed information and, wherever possible, on the basis of the principles of evidence

NHS Choices
Aims to personalise healthcare and provide information that will allow patients to make meaningful choices about when and where to receive their treatment.

NHS Constitution
The NHS Constitution establishes the principles and values of the NHS in England. It sets out rights to which patients, public and staff are entitled, and pledges which the NHS is committed to achieve, together with responsibilities which the public, patients and staff owe to one another to ensure that the NHS operates fairly and effectively.

NHS Direct
Your gateway to health information on the internet. Includes: on-line encyclopaedia of medical conditions, self-help guide containing advice on what to do for minor ailments, healthy living tips and links to local NHS services.

North East Essex PCT Clinical Website
Contains a variety of information, links and resources for clinicians in North East Essex PCT to assist them in their clinical decision-making.

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One Parent Families
Offers advice and information for lone parents.

Open Road
Aims to reduce the harmful impact of drugs and alcohol on users, their families, partners and society.

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PALS (Patient Advice & Liaison Service)
There to help patients, carers, relatives and friends to resolve any problems as quickly and easily as possible, and to provide any information they may require.

Parentline Plus
Working for, and with, parents during challenging and difficult times.

Parkinson's Disease Society
Helps people with Parkinson's Disease, their families, carers and friends.

Pensionage
A non-profit organisation providing help for older people and for those who help them.

Phoenix House - Rebuilding Lives
A specialist drug and alcohol treatment provider that offers a range of services to meet individual needs and help substance users rebuild their lives.

Please Ask
The National Patient Safety Agency's website for patients. This website will help you become an informed patient and one that worries less.

Positively Women
Working to improve the quality of life for women and families affected by and living with HIV.

Prescribing Guidelines for Health Professionals

Prostate Cancer
Provides support, information, funding research and fundraising activities around the UK.

Public Sector Careers
Advertises health jobs and NHS vacancies throughout the country.

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Quality Information Checklist
This site will help you find clues so you can decide if the information in a web site is any good.

Quit
Aims to save lives by helping smokers stop.

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Relatives & Residents Association (Essex)
A new initiative which aims to provide information and support to older people relating to residential care and alternatives.

Realise Health Ltd
Realise Health Ltd is a company working with the Primary Care Trust to build modern, fit-for-purpose facilities for healthcare

Refuge
Offers a range of services which increases the choices of women and children experiencing domestic violence and gives them access to professional support whatever their situation.

Relate
A national organisation offering advice and counselling for many aspects of mental and sexual health.

Release
National drug and legal advice service which provides a range of services dedicated to meeting the health, welfare and legal needs of drug users and those that live and work with them.

Re-Solv
National charity dedicated to the prevention of solvent and volatile substance abuse (VSA).

RETHINK
National voluntary organisation which provides support to, and campaigns on behalf of, people with a severe mental illness, particularly schizophrenia, their families and carers.

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Samaritans
Confidential listening service for young people about any aspect of life, including mental health, depression, anxiety, bereavement, drugs and alcohol etc.

Scar Information Service
Provides information about scars and scar therapies.

Seasonal Affective Disorder Association (SAD)
Voluntary organisation and registered charity that informs the public and health professionals about SAD and supports and advises sufferers.

Sex and young people
Are you ready for sex? Where can you get contraception or free condoms? Is your body normal? What should you do if a condom splits? And what about infections? Find answers to these questions, and more.

Sex: talking about it
Sex is definitely worth talking about. The articles and videos in this section give tips on talking about sex with your partner, young child or teenager, and where to go for further information, help and support with your sexual health if you need it.

Sex: worth talking about
You'll find straightforward information and advice to make it easier to discuss everything to do with sexual health.

Sexual health information from NHS Choices

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) information
Find out the symptoms that could mean you have a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Sexwise
Helpline offering free, confidential advice on sex, relationships and contraception.

Smoking Quitline
All you need to know about giving up smoking.

St Helena Hospice
Provides a wide range of specialist palliative care services for people living in North Essex who have an advanced, progressive, life threatening illness.

Stammering
The British Stammering Association website - your first point of contact for information and support on stammering, also known as stuttering.

Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS)
Provides support for bereaved parents and their families when their baby dies before, during or shortly after birth.

Stroke Association
What causes strokes, the effects that they can have, how they can be prevented and how they are treated. The site also tells you how The Stroke Association can help you if stroke affects your life.

SupportLine
Provides a confidential helpline offering emotional support to any individual on any issue.

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
Self-help organisation for survivors of bereavement by suicide.

Survivors of Lesbian Partnership Abuse
Supports women who have experienced emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse by a female lover and to raise awareness of the issue of same sex domestic violence.

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TACMEP
Supporting black and minority ethnic people who live in the Colchester and Tendring areas.

TB Alert
Set up by people who felt that with the long tradition of TB work, there should be a greater response in Britain to the resurgent threat of tuberculosis - already declared a global emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1993.

Tendring Community Safety Handbook 2009/10

Tendring Community Transport - incorporating Dial-a-ride
Provides wheelchair accessible door-to-door transport for Tendring District residents who are unable to access conventional public transport.

Tendring Community Voluntary Services
Run by the local community to support, promote and develop voluntary and community action.

Tendring Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership
The Tendring Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) is a statutory body responsible for funding and delivering crime and disorder reduction projects in the district.

Tendring District Council

Tendring Virtual Youth Centre
A website for young people in Tendring to get information on health, money and other stuff and to talk to other young people in the district in their forum.

Tendring Youth Assembly
A group of young people from across Tendring that meet twice a month to discuss matters that affect them as young people. This group is the only youth forum or youth council sponsored and co-ordinated by Tendring District Council.

The Compassionate Friends
An organisation of bereaved parents and their families offering understanding, support and encouragement to others after the death of a child or children.

The Ministry of Parenting
Works with children, parents, professionals and organisations developing creative evidence based solutions to the challenges faced by families in society today.

The NHS Plan

The Stroke Association
A site full of useful information and local contacts.

Together
National charity working for wellbeing: that means we support people with mental health needs to get what they want from life and to feel happier.

Travel Advice
Health advice for travellers.

Triumph over Phobia (Top UK)
Runs a national network of structured self-help groups for sufferers of phobia or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Turning Point
National charity helping people with drink, drug, mental health and learning disabilities.

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Want a medicine check-up?
Medicines use review

Want to come to a Board meeting?
Details and invitations to our Board meetings.

WellBeing of Women
Raises money to invest in medical research and the development of specialist doctors and nurses working in the field of reproductive and gynaecological health.

What to do when your surgery is closed
What to do when your GP surgery is closed or you need an NHS dentist out-of-hours.

Whizz Kidz
Childrens' charity helping disabled children throughout the UK.

Women's Aid
National charity working to end domestic violence against women and children.

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YoungMinds
A national charity committed to improving the mental health of all children and young people under 25.

Your Guide to the NHS

Youth Access
Membership organisation for information, advice and counselling services.