Doctors / General Practitioners (GPs)
The services provided by your GP include general medical advice and treatment, prescriptions, immunisations and referral to a specialist or hospital (where appropriate).
How can my GP help?
If you go to your GP with a mental health problem, you may be offered support and counselling for a short time, or prescribed some sort of drug treatment. Alternatively, you may be referred to a psychiatrist or an outpatient clinic, to a psychologist or community psychiatric nurse, or to some other person or organisation that could help you. Many sources of help within the NHS require a letter of referral from your GP.
GPs do vary in their approach to mental health problems, and one or more doctors in a group practice may have a special expertise and interest in this area. If necessary, however, you can change to a different GP, and the Croydon Primary Care Trust will tell you how to do this and send you a list of other local GP practices. Contact.
Croydon Community Care Services
12-18 Lennard Road
Croydon
Surrey
CR9 2RS
Tel: 020 8274 6300
Website: www.croydon.nhs.uk
PALS are like "customer services departments" - they deal with patients queries and concerns and aim to solve problems quickly. They also pass on comments and suggestions for improving services and can advise what to do if you have a complaint about the NHS. Each NHS Trust has its own PALS:
PALS - South East Commissioning Support Unit on behalf of NHS Croydon CCG
South East CSU Complaints Team
1 Lower Marsh
London
SE1 7NT
Tel: 0800 456 1517
Fax: 020 3049 4153
Email: SLCSU.Complaints@nhs.net
PALS - Croydon Health Services
530 London Road
Croydon
CR7 7YE
Tel: 020 8401 3210
Email: ch-tr.pals@nhs.net
PALS - South London and Maudsley NHS Trust
Tel: 0800 731 2864
Email: pals@slam.nhs.uk