Health services

NHS Choices is the online ‘front door’ to the NHS. It is the country’s biggest health website and gives all the information you need to make choices about your health.

You can find information about hospitals, GPs and dentists and urgent care. As well as basic contact details, you can also find feedback from other people about what they think about these services.

It’s not just limited to NHS information. You can also find information about other services in your area (often provided by charities) that can help you with conditions from Alzheimer’s through to weight loss.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) checks all hospitals, dentists, care homes and care services to see if they meet national standards. You can find out what they have to say about these services in your area by visiting their website.

Social care services

The CQC’s website has a complete directory of places where care is provided in England. It includes information about every hospital, care home, dentist and care home agency in England as well as other types of service like ambulances, prison care services and hospices.

The Social Care Institute for Excellence also has a tool which lets you search for care providers in particular locations.


Is someone you know struggling? See if they are eligible for extra support

Does your mum or dad seem to be struggling at home? It could be time to find out if they can get the extra help they need. Or perhaps you’re looking after someone full-time and it’s beginning to have a major impact on all areas of your life – health, relationships or work? Visit the Surrey County Council website to see if you are eligible for extra support.

It’s quick and easy to find support online

There are two online checklists – one to assess the needs of an adult who is struggling, and a carer’s checklist if you are looking after an adult. These will take only ten minutes to complete. They can be completed for yourself or on behalf of someone else.

There is also an online financial assessment to check if there is likely to be a charge for social care support. This takes twenty minutes to complete and you’ll need a recent bank statement to hand. You’ll have the option of either keeping the details and results to yourself for information only – or registering fully and sharing with Surrey County Council Adult Social Care.

So visit www.surreycc.gov.uk/adultsocialcareonline today to check whether you could get some extra help.