Free Advice On A Range Of Topics At Three Local GP Surgeries

Published on: 15 May, 2015
Updated on: 15 May, 2015

A pilot scheme providing free advice sessions within three of Guildford’s GP surgeries has been hailed a success and is set to expand as its half-way point approaches.

Today’s CAB logo.

Currently, advisors are from Guildford Citizens Advice Bureau and Age UK Surrey. The surgeries at which the National Lottery-funded pilot scheme is operating in are: The Oaks, Applegarth Avenue, Park Barn on Tuesdays; Dapdune House, Wharf Road, on Wednesdays; and Stoughton Road surgery on Thursdays, all from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.

Sally Taylorson, from Guildford Advice Services (based at Guildford CAB in Haydon Place) who is co-ordinating the pilot said: “Feedback from those seen by advisers so far has been overwhelmingly positive with all those who responded stating that they ‘would recommend the service to others’.”

Amanda, the CAB adviser with the pilot scheme, said: “Many clients have told me that having the CAB service at the doctors’ surgery is valuable as, particularly for older clients or those with mobility problems, it means that they do not have to make a trip into town and find parking, or pay bus fares.”

All clients are seen by appointment only. CAB appointments at Dapdune House surgery are available to anyone, whether registered to that practice or not. If you would like to make an appointment call the surgery on 01483 400200.

To access the CAB and Age UK Surrey advisers at The Oaks, and the CAB adviser at Stoughton Road, clients need to be a registered patient at any of the four Guildowns Group surgeries.

On Tuesdays at The Oaks there are two advisers, one from the CAB and one from Age UK Surrey.

The Citizens Advice Bureau is able to help people over a wide range of topics from problems with debt, housing, welfare benefits and other legal matters. Age UK Surrey can offer advice to those aged 50-plus on a wide range of topics such as health and disability, residential and non-residential care, finding help at home, welfare benefits and searching for grants, housing, employment, education and leisure, transport and many others.

The service is soon to develop even further when a counsellor from The Fountain Centre will begin holding sessions at the Stoughton Road surgery.

The Fountain Centre is a charity for cancer patients, their families and carers to whom they offer advice, counselling and a huge range of complementary therapies. The charity has its main base at St Luke’s Cancer Centre at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford. Appointments for this service can only be offered to those registered at one of the surgeries within the Guildowns Group Practice or currently registered with The Fountain Centre.

Anne Pike, The Fountain Centre co-ordinator, said: “We are really excited to have our first outreach counselling service; this will enable local residents affected by cancer to access counselling closer to home.”

For more information on The Fountain Centre call 01483 406618, or visit the website www.fountaincentre.org

For more information on Guildford Advice Services visit www.guildfordadviceservices.org