Advice and Information

If you live in England and are an NHS patient you have the right to choose who delivers your care. This includes who can provide your ADHD assessment and support you with starting medication. This page focusses on one person's experience of using the Right to Choose pathway and their top tips as a result.

The range of organisations, services and bodies which form the National Health Service (NHS) can make the health system in England a confusing one. Healthwatch Surrey exist to provide information and advice to the residents of Surrey on how to access healthcare – and to signpost to the relevant parts of the system – to hopefully make things a little clearer.

Many people think we help only with issues relating to health, but if you have concerns about social care services and need assistance or advice, Healthwatch Surrey are here for you.

GP practices are the ‘front door’ to the NHS – this means they are often the first place a person may visit when they have a health care need or are seeking advice regarding a health matter.

Both urgent and emergency care services play an important role in ensuring patients receive the right care, from the right person, at the right time. But knowing exactly what these services do, which one you need and how to use them can be confusing.

Finding an NHS dentist can be challenging, as dental practices do not keep registered patient lists in the same way GP surgeries do. Healthwatch Surrey are here to provide information and signposting to help you understand your options, from finding a local dentist to knowing what to do if you need urgent or community dental care.

Information on this page:
• How do I book a sight test for my child?
• My child is neurodiverse/has additional needs, how do I access a sight test that accommodates their needs?
• Is there any financial support available to help to pay for the test or glasses if they are needed?
• Reasons why I might need to book a sight test sooner than their 2 year check
• How can I feed back about the service we received?

It is recommended that everyone should get their eyes tested at least every 2 years. These tests identify if people need glasses but also help to detect any early signs of eye disease.

At Healthwatch Surrey we are keen that everyone can get the health services they need.

You can provide feedback about health and care services to us. Healthwatch Surrey champions the voice of local people to shape, improve and get the best from NHS, health and social care services. We are independent and have statutory powers to make sure decision makers listen to the experiences of local people.

Making a complaint about an NHS service can feel daunting, but free and independent support is available.

Advocacy services aim to ensure that if you find it difficult - for any reason - to have your voice heard about a decision that affects you, an advocate can support and represent you.