Visiting hospital
For information on visiting hospital including parking fees, maps and how to claim back any travel costs incurred, please click here.

Carers information
For information on carers support and guidance, please click on the following documents:
Carers Guide 2011
Carers Opportunities Grid

Social Care Bulletin September/October 2011
For information on the Department of Health Social Care Bulletin, please click here.

Benefits while in hospital
Going into hospital may affect any benefits you receive, including Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit. If someone receives Carer’s Allowance because they are caring for you, this may also be affected if you go into hospital.

A useful leaflet which contains more details can be found at
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dwp1029.pdf

VONNE Health & Social Care Forum October Roundup
To read more information about VONNE’s October 2011 Roundup please click here.

The following information provides contact details for Transport providers in Northumberland:

• Adapt (North East) www.adapt-ne.org.uk or by telephoning 01434 600599.
• North East Equality & Diversity (NEED) Ltd www.needltd.co.uk or on 01665 605780.
• WRVS Get About Northumberland voluntary car scheme – for more
  information http://www.wrvs.org.uk/service/1111-getabout-northumberland-community-transport or telephone 0845 600 5885.
• The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS), Customer Care team www.neas.nhs.uk/ or on 07973 970994.

Help with the cost of prescriptions
To read more about help with prescription costs click on this link http://www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/Healthcosts/pages/Prescriptioncosts.aspx

NHS Confederation briefing: The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, a vital tool guide to commissioning.  To read more about this click here.