Self-Referral Hub

Self-Referral Pathways for Patients

  • Below you will find a summary of the new referral routes and guidance on how you can refer yourself/direct patients to refer themselves directly to the service for triage and assessment.
  • Please note that self-referral means a referral for triage where the service will assess suitability for treatment/intervention.
  • Should the providers believe their service is unsuitable following triage, patients will be directed back to their GPs for review and assessment.
  • Where there are any gaps in provision, further information will be shared on how to self-refer as soon as possible.
  • If you are referring yourself it is your responsibility to make sure you meet any eligibility criteria that may apply.
Audiology (Community Age-Related Hearing Loss)
  • Age-related hearing services, which are provided via the Any Qualified Providers (AQP) model.  
  • To make a self-referral to audiology services patients will need to refer to their local audiology provider's policy. Information for patients on making a referral can be found below.  
  • The local Providers are North Tees and Hartlepool NHS FT (NTHFT), County Durham and Darlington NHS FT, Outside Clinic, Minor Ops, Specsavers, and Scrivens. 
  • Patients should be made aware that self-referral is only available to patients who meet the current criteria for audiology referrals from GPs. 

Specsavers 

Patients can call or visit stores in person. The patient will then be triaged by staff for eligibility into the service. Patients can call stores at the following locations: 

  • Stockton Specsavers, 49-51 Wellington Square, Stockton-on-Tees, UK, TS18 1RG Telephone: 01642 037780 
  • Middlesbrough Specsavers, 25/27 Newport Road, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, UK, TS1 1LE Telephone: 01642 036045  
  • Hartlepool Specsavers, Unit 136, Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, Hartlepool, Cleveland, UK, TS24 7RD Telephone: 01429 705024 
  • Darlington Specsavers, 41 High Row, Darlington, County Durham, UK, DL3 7QW Telephone: 01325 968150 
  • Redcar Specsavers, 57 High Street, Redcar, Cleveland, UK, TS10 3BZ Telephone: 01642 037576 
  • Scrivens
    • Patients can call Scrivens to book an appointment via telephone 0800 027 5102. This number will direct patients to the scrivens Customer Services Team who will then direct patients accordingly into the service. 
    • Patients who struggle with telephone contact can email customercare@scrivens.com to self-refer, or visit www.scrivens.com to book an appointment online. 
  • Minor Ops 
    • Patients can self-refer to Minor Ops via telephone and email booking. Patients should call 0191 9178886 or email hearingcare@minor-ops.co.uk  
  • Outside Clinic
    • Patients can self-refer to the Outside Clinic via telephone booking. Patients should call 0800 954 9093 to be registered, after which they will receive a call from the Audiology Advisor Team to be triaged over the phone. 
  • North Tees Hospitals Audiology
    • The North Tees and Hartlepool Hospitals are currently not accepting self-referrals. We are working to improve this pathway to give patients the choice to self-refer to the service in the near future. 
  • County Durham and Darlington Hospitals Audiology
    • The audiology service at County Durham and Darlington Hospitals is currently not accepting self-referrals. This is an ongoing discussion, and we will share further information on how to access self-referral at CDDFT Audiology shortly. 
Community Equipment Services

The Tees Community Equipment Services (TCES) will also be self-referral enabled, and further communications will be distributed in the coming weeks to outline the correct process. We are working with the Service and Integrated Single Point of Access leads to enable patients to have access to a health or social care professional, who can then perform an assessment and order equipment directly with the Service. 

Continence (bladder and bowel problems, pelvic organ prolapse, and pelvic floor dysfunction)

Please note that this service is for treatment only and they cannot deal with requests for products.

The Specialist Pelvic Health Team provides care and support through specialist assessment, treatment and advice about care with bladder and bowel problems, pelvic organ prolapse, and pelvic floor dysfunction with preventative measures.

You can contact the service yourself to refer yourself to the Pelvic Health Team on telephone: 01429 522 500.

Or for more information, see this link: https://www.nth.nhs.uk/resources/continence-promotion-service/ 

Gestational Diabetes

The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP) Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) self-referral pathway is now live, patients can complete the referral using the link below which also gives some additional information.

https://healthieryou.reedwellbeing.com/gestational-diabetes/ 

Click here to download an information leaflet on services for Gestational Diabetes

Healthy Living for people with type 2 diabetes

Healthy Living is a free, online NHS programme that supports people to live well with type 2 diabetes.

It includes information and advice about:

  • type 2 diabetes
  • eating well
  • becoming more active
  • how to look after your body and mind
  • other NHS services and support
  • living with diabetes, including driving, working and travelling

You can use the Healthy Living programme whenever suits you, and for as long as you need - there is no limit to access so you can learn at your own pace. It can also be used alongside any other diabetes programmes or education you may be taking part in.

Sign up now by completing the registration form: https://www.healthyliving.nhs.uk/ 

Impact on Teesside (Mental Health)

Impact on Teesside offer a range of services tailored to the goals you want to obtain in regards to your mental health.

To get this process started, please check the Suitability Criteria before requesting a self-referral using the links below:

https://www.impactonteesside.com/suitability/ 

https://www.impactonteesside.com/online-referral/ 

Musculoskeletal Service (MSK)
Podiatry
  • Patients can self-refer into the Podiatry Service online at: https://www.nth.nhs.uk/services/podiatric-surgery/ and click "Online self-referral". 
  • Patients that cannot access the website can phone the Specialist Services Admin Hub on 01429 522471 and press Option 1 between the hours 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday.
Pregnancy

Self-refer your pregnancy to North Tees and Hartlepool: https://www.badgernotes.net/SelfReferral/CareLocation/NTH 

Sexual Health Teesside

Free and confidential sexual health services in Teesside including information and advice on all types of contraception and STI testing and treatment. The service is confidential, non-judgmental and for people of all ages, genders and orientations. The sexual health clinics can be found in Middlesbrough, Redcar, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees.

Everyone is welcome and you don’t need to see a GP first. You can book an appointment online 24/7 or call on 0300 3301122 Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5.00pm.

https://www.thesexualhealthhub.co.uk/services-near-you/teesside/ 

Stress, Anxiety and Depression

NHS North Cumbria Talking Therapies is the new name for First Step and has been changed as part of a national rebrand. It offers the same effective psychological therapies for mild to moderate depression and anxiety disorders (e.g. Phobias, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Health Anxiety, Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders).

North Cumbria Talking Therapies warmly welcomes students, adults over 18 of all genders, sexual orientations and ethnicities, as well as people with a learning disability or difference, and/or autism.

Our practitioners will listen to your experience and work with you to understand how you have been feeling. Together we will decide what sort of help might work best for you.

You can find more information here or alternatively, you can call on 0300 123 9122.

Tees Active - Weight Management

Weight Management (Lite4Life or Energise) is a 12 week group programme that educates, supports and promotes sustainable lifestyle changes. Participants will learn about diet and physical activity to enable them to change their lifestyle and improve their overall health and wellbeing. The programme includes a 10-week activity pass giving access to gyms, swimming and fitness classes across the Tees Active venues. Adults meeting the eligibility criteria (including BMI 30+, or BMI 25+ with comorbidities) can access the programme free of charge.

An individual who satisfies all the following eligibility criteria (and none of the exclusion criteria) is eligible to access the Tier 2 Adult Weight Management Service:

Eligibility Criteria:
• Aged sixteen years or over
• Resident, or registered with a GP practice, in Stockton-on-Tees
• BMI 25+ with controlled comorbidities (23+ for people of Black African, African-Caribbean and Asian origin) via referral from a healthcare professional
• BMI 30+ (27.5+ for people of Black African, African-Caribbean and Asian origin) via referral from a healthcare professional or self-referral
• Motivated and ready to make lifestyle changes

Exclusion Criteria:
• An individual who does not meet the eligibility criteria as defined in inclusion criteria
• Severe/moderate frailty as recorded on a frailty register
• Is pregnant
• Has an eating disorder
• Has a significant unmanaged co-morbidity (unmanaged meaning not on medication and/or not subject to regular clinical review or have not completed a current active management programme. Where there are any concerns that this might be the case, the individual's GP will be consulted before commencement of the programme)
• Has had bariatric surgery in the last two years
• Has type 1 diabetes / newly diagnosed diabetes and has had no clinical input
• Has profound and multiple learning disabilities (unless actively supported by their Clinician or Carer)
• Has learning disabilities and demonstrates behaviours that challenge (unless actively supported by their Clinician or Carer)
• Mental health or learning disabilities in-patients (unless actively supported by a member of in-patient staff)
• Has an underlying medical cause for obesity and would benefit from more intensive clinical management than a tier 2 service
• Head and neck cancer patients unless explicitly supported by their Consultant Oncologist

Click here for more information including referrals. 

Vasectomy Referrals

If you need a vasectomy, you can now self refer by calling Sexual Health Teesside on 0300 330 1122 to book an appointment.

Get support information about your vasectomy:

Wheelchair Services
  • Patients aged 18 and over can now self-refer for assessment into the North Tees Hospitals Wheelchair Service via webform on the North Tees Trust website https://www.nth.nhs.uk/services/wheelchair-services/wheelchair-self-referral-form/ 
  • Telephone referrals are not appropriate for this service, and as such patients are encouraged to use the webform which will guide users for taking measurements for wheelchairs. 
  • Patients will be able to watch a short video explaining how to make measurements for a wheelchair to aid in getting appropriate equipment to suit each patient's needs. This video is still pending recording and uploading to the Trust website.