Social Services

Suffolk Social Services - Customer First
Your first point of contact for social care in Suffolk

Tel: 0808 800 4005 Lines open 8am - 6.45pm Mon-Fri

Norfolk Social Services
Tel: 0344 800 8014

Out of Hours

South East Health Ltd
Head Office - Kingston House, The Long Barrow, Orbital Park, Ashford, Kent TN24 0GP

Out-of-hours service provider

Carers

Carers Direct
Information, advice and support for carers

Freephone: 0808 802 02 02 7 days a week (calls free from UK landlines)

Carers UK
Advice and information for carers

Tel: 0808 800 4005 - Lines open 8am - 6.45pm Mon-Fri 

Transport

NHS Patient Transport Service
Tel: 01493 453777 (8.30am - 5pm on Mon-Fri)

People who need help to travel to hospital appointments can access the area's non-emergency patient transport service by phoning the above number. This service is for people who have a medical condition which means they are unable to travel to their appointment in any other way. A range of different vehicles are used to provide the service, along with trained staff who can offer support thoughout the journey.

Anyone ringing the service will be assessed for their suitability and should have details of their appointment, hospital number, NHS number and GP address to hand when they call. The service should be booked two weeks in advance and is available for appointments at James Paget Hospital, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, Norfolk & Waveney Mental Health Partnership Clinics, Norfolk Community Health and Care Clinics and Ipswich Hospital.

Bungay Area Community Transport
Harmony House, Hillside Road East, Bungay  NR35 1RX

Tel: 01986 895665 / 896896

The community transport scheme covers Bungay and Beccles and the surrounding villages. The Community Car Service uses volunteers to transport people who have problems using public transport. They can take you to doctor/hospital appointments or to the shops for example. Costs are based on the distance travelled, but many journeys are subsidised. If you are a patient at Bungay and are attending hospital for cancer treatment you may be entitled to free transport. A minibus is also available for outings, etc. Click on the website link for more details.

Suffolk Links Pathfinder

Booking telephone number: 01986 874479

Suffolk Links is a Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) service which provides connections to bus and train links in rural areas. The bus can take you to Bungay, Halesworth, Wrentham, or the railway station at Darsham, or any of the villages within the area shown on the leaflet map. Connections can be made for onward travel to places further afield such as Ipswich, Norwich, Southwold or Lowestoft.

Hospitals

All Hallows Hospital
Station Road, Ditchingham, Bungay, Suffolk  NR35 2QL

Tel: 01986 892728

James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust
Lowestoft Road, Gorleston-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk  NR31 6LA

Tel: 01493 452452

Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust
Colney Lane, Norwich  NR4 7UY

Tel: 01603 286286

NHS

NHS 111
If you need medical help fast, but it is not a 999 emergency, you can now call NHS 111. NHS 111 will assess you, provide advice and direct you straight away to the local service that can help you best. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and calls are free, including from mobiles.

Tel: 111

NHS Suffolk
Call this number for an NHS Dentist in your area

Tel: 0800 389 6819

Patients' Advice & Liaison Service (PALS)
Customer Services Manager, Norfolk & Waveney CSU, Lakeside 400, Broadland Business Park, Old Chapel Way, Norwich NR7 0WG

PALS can help if you are worried or have a problem, but don't know what to do.
Do you need information, but don't know who to ask? Are you concerned or want information on how to complain? This is a confidential service.

Tel: 0800 587 4132   Email: pals@norfolk.nhs.uk

Complaints

Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS)

Tel: 0300 456 2370

Children

Dragonflies Children's Centre
Wisset Road, Halesworth, Suffolk IP19 8BT

Tel: 01986 874865

Children's centres offer a range of services for families with children from birth to five in Suffolk. This Sure Start centre is on the site of the Edgar Sewter Primary School. The centre offers a full timetable of groups and events, and they also offer a home visiting family support service, as well as outreach groups in all areas.

Mental Health

Wellbeing Service

Tel: 0300 123 1503 if you live in Norfolk
Tel: 0300 123 1781 if you live in Suffolk

Feeling down? Stressed out? Overwhelmed? Anxious?
Contact the service to learn new ways to cope and to take the first steps to better wellbeing.