Health & Independent Living

Ashford Gateway provides access to a wide range of health services.

General Health

For information on Kent and Medway NHS and the Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT services:

GPs, dentists, pharmacies, opticians
Hospitals
Health information
Patient Advice Liaison Service (PALS)

For more information visit Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT or Kent and Medway NHS

Smoking Cessation - FREE Stop Smoking Service

If you want to stop smoking, or are thinking about it, the NHS has a free Stop Smoking Service. Stop smoking advisors work in GP surgeries, pharmacies and many other venues, daytimes and evening. There is a free service at the Ashford Gateway on a Wednesday 2pm to 5pm.

Up to 12 weeks NRT (patches, gums, etc.) is available for one prescription fee as part of the programme, and is FREE is you are exempt form prescription charge.

To find out more, you can:

For more information about the service visit the Smoking Cessation website. You can phone us on 0800 849 4444 to arrange an appointment or email us at: ecksmokefree@nhs.net

Support for people with ME

If you have ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) or care for someone that does, the Forget ME Nots group can provide you with support and friendship.

We can offer access to help and information at our drop-in sessions in the Gateway, held on the second Friday of each month from 11am to 12 noon and the fourth Friday of each month 1.30pm to 3pm.

For more information, phone the helpline on 07875 144661 or email theforgetmenots@aol.com.

Employment opportunities for disadvantaged people

The Kent Supported Employment service offers support to both employers and workers.

As a worker, you can get advice, guidance and support in finding the right job for you. This includes:

help with searching and applying for jobs
tips on interview skills and one-to-one support
advice on writing CVs
advice on benefits
matching hours to suit your needs

Employers can benefit from:

exceptional service and support
the right person for the job
one-to-one tailored support
disability training and awareness sessions
advice and guidance on government incentives and schemes

Come in and speak to our advisors – they are available in the Gateway every Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 4pm.

For more information about the service, visit the Kent Supported Employment website.

Leading a healthier life

Health trainers can work with you to find ways of leading a more healthy and happy life. This could include:

eating healthy food and shopping on a budget
stopping smoking
being more active
feeling good about yourself

Our health trainers spend time with you one-to-one and:

give free guidance and support
go with you to new places and groups

They even speak a number of different languages and can sign.

Health trainers are available in the Gateway on a Monday 10am to 12.30pm.

For more information, visit the Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT website or call freephone 0800 849 4000 (calls made from a mobile phone may be charged).

Direct Payment

What are direct payments?
Direct Payments are local council payments to people who have been assessed as needing help from social services. They are designed for people who would like to arrange and pay for their own care and support services instead of receiving them directly from the local council.

With a direct payment you are in control of the support you receive and how your needs are met.

What can direct payments be used for?
The money is for you to buy the support, services and/or equipment which meet the needs Kent County Council has assessed you as having. You can be flexible about how you spend your direct payment as long as what you buy meets you assessed social care needs. For example, you can use it to buy

Personal or domiciliary care and respite care
to employ someone to provide support in a way that suits you; or
to go to an activity during the day

You cannot use it buy:

services or support that are not related to your assessed need
any service provided by Kent County Council
long term residential

Kent Card:

The Kent Card is a new,secure and convenient way of receiving your direct payment. It's easy to use and you do not need to set up and manage a separate bank account. The card is a chip and pin visa and works in the same way as a VISA debit card. It can be used to pay a personal assistant and makes record keeping easier.

You can find out more about Direct Payments and Kent Card on our website or by phoning the direct payments helpline on 0845 365 0210

Information on mental health

Rethink East Kent Carer Support Service.

The service provides information on mental health and carer's issues. We offer one-to-one individual support to carers supporting family members, friends or neighbours with a mental illness. Rethink covers Ashford, Dover, Deal, Folkestone, Thanet and Canterbury & coastal areas, or surrounding villages.

We also offer carer group meetings in Thanet, Herne Bay, Canterbury, Folkestone areas and in Ashford at the Ashford Gateway on the 3rd Thursday of the month 2pm to 3.30pm.

Visit the Rethink website for more information about the help available.

There is also information on mental wellbeing on Signpost Kent and Live It Well.