Health (adulthood)

Emergency care involves life-threatening illnesses or accidents which require immediate treatment from the ambulance service (via calling 999) and an emergency department (A&E).

An ambulance will take you to the closest A&E with capacity to deal with your immediate needs. For example if you are in Trowbridge that might be Bath Emergency Department / A&E (ruh.nhs.uk) (opens new window) or, closer to Salisbury, they are served by Salisbury Emergency Department / A&E (salisbury.nhs.uk) (opens new window).

NHS 111 is there to make it easier and quicker for patients to get the right advice or treatment they need, be that for their physical or mental health.

In many cases NHS 111 clinicians and call advisors can give patients the advice they need without using another service, such as their GP or A&E.

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can access this service by calling 111, or going to NHS 111 online (opens new window).

To find out more about NHS 111, please visit NHS England: About NHS 111 (opens new window).

Wiltshire Health and Care provides services from six community hospital sites. Three of these hospitals have inpatient wards: Chippenham, Warminster and Savernake. There are Minor Injury Units at the Chippenham and Trowbridge hospital sites.

For more information on these Hospitals, and their services, please visit: Community hospitals (wiltshirehealthandcare.nhs.uk) (opens new window)

As an adult, your first step in many situations is to talk to your GP first. You should be signed up with a local surgery and are usually assigned a practitioner who remains familiar with your history. You can usually request appointments with the same person, so you can be sure of a consistent approach and understanding of your personal needs. GPs may refer you to specialists or other care services as required, and can often advise or direct you for most of your health questions.

For more information please visit: Find a GP (www.nhs.uk) (opens new window), and our GP FAQs pages.

Connect - Turning Point

The Wiltshire Substance Use Service works with residents of all ages, offering support and education to people who want to address their substance use, offering support to the wider family network too. This support is free and confidential and can be delivered either in hub or in the community whilst maintaining high levels of confidentiality. 

For self referral and further information please visit:

Connect homepage (opens new window)

You can also find more advice and support from services like The Wrap (opens new window) and Wiltshire SHOUT on the advice and support page.

The main Wiltshire Council website also provides more information on substance use, and where you can go for support. You can also complete a confidential self-assessment if you are concerned about how much you or someone else is drinking. For more information visit:

Drug and alcohol use

Another source of advice and help is the Talk to FRANK website (opens new window) which provides information on types of drugs, the impacts and where you can go for help.

As you reach adulthood you may have questions or require help on the subject of sexual health. If you feel you want to talk to someone other than your parents or carers there are lots of ways you can get the help and information you need.

No Worries! Wiltshire

Wiltshire offers a free and confidential sexual health advices service for those aged 13 to 24 years old. This includes some of the following services:

• emergency hormonal contraception
• pregnancy testing
• condoms and condom demonstrations
• chlamydia testing and treatment
• contraception information
• advice and support

You can visit the following pages for more information and contact details No Worries! Wiltshire (facebook.com) (opens new window), and our find a sexual health clinic pages.

You can also visit the following page for more information on sexual health:

Sexual health

WiSe Wiltshire Sexual Health

WiSe offer Sexually Transmitted Infection testing and treatment, contraception and HIV services in Wiltshire. The service offers confidential, non-judgemental service to people of all ages, genders and orientation and is open access to all. 

To find out more about the services available and book an appointment visit WiSE 111 Health (opens new window).

Doctors surgery

You can find out about all the methods of contraception available through your Doctors surgery, you can work out which of the methods is suitable for you. Contact your doctors surgery to make an appointment with a healthcare professional to discuss. If you're under 16 and want contraception, the doctor, nurse will support you and ensure you fully understand the information you're given and the decisions you're making. Doctors and nurses work under guidelines when dealing with people under 16.

Below are a range of services in Wiltshire that you might find useful if you are searching for mental health support. Further help can be found on the advice and support pages and Wiltshire Together (opens new window). Charities like Alabaré: mental health support (opens new window) may also prove useful.

Rethink Mental Illness (16+)

The Rethink Mental Illness, Wiltshire Mental Health Inclusion Service (opens new window) provides a community mental health service for those in Wiltshire. It is to help support you if you are feeling isolated or lonely due to your mental health and create opportunities of growth to access your local community. The service is jointly funded by Wiltshire Council and the Wiltshire Commissioning Group.

For more information on Rethink visit:

Rethink Mental Illness (opens new window)

Mental Health Support Apps

These apps have been designed to help users to manage things that they might find difficult when experiencing low mood, anxiety, or stress. They work by teaching skills and strategies to manage these feelings in the moment, and to help reduce their impact in the future. Some of the apps can also direct users to sources of more information, local resources, and who to contact in a crisis.

For more information visit:

NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (ICB): People’s Mental Health Apps (ORCHA Health Ltd) (opens new window)

On Your Mind 5 to 18

Healthy Minds Wiltshire

The On Your Mind website has lots of information, practical tips and advice about supporting children and young people's emotional wellbeing.  The service is there to help young people aged 5 to 18 registered with a GP in Wiltshire who are experiencing a range of early mental health difficulties through group work, activities in the community and counselling sessions for those young people who need more intensive support.  We are also an all year round service and so our support does not stop in school holidays.

• advice, information and signposting 
• positive activities both online and in person, with a wellbeing focus 
• therapy (including online) 
• decider skills workshops - these are groups (occasionally delivered one to one if needed) that are based on CBT/DBT, the aim is to help children and young people deal with different emotions and tolerate distress, developing coping strategies etc. 

For more information about what HCRG offers and how to contact/self-refer, please call 0300 247 0090 (option 4) or visit:

On your mind: Wiltshire Children and Young People Emotional Wellbeing Service (opens new window)

Family Nurse Partnership (FNP): The programme (opens new window) is an intensive programme of support for young parents during the transition from pregnancy to parenthood. It supports young parents give their children the best start in life and is known to improve child development.  FNP is licensed for use with parents under 24 years, however, in Wiltshire it is aimed at expectant young mums aged 19 and under at conception, and their partners. 

Ask your midwife to put you in touch with the local FNP team (opens new window).

For additional training around parenting, including relationship and conflict courses email parenting@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) or visit:

Parenting courses

Support with speech and language often touches on a number of services across education and health as you grow up. In Wiltshire our services provided under health up to the age of 18 can be found by visiting 0 to 18 years, Health Services, for ages 18 onwards please visit Wiltshire Health and Care: Our services (opens new window).

You can also read our guide on the provision we expect to be available to support communication needs in education, this includes strategies and information useful at home as well as in learning environments - Section Two: Communication and Interaction.

Selective mutism 

For more information about selective mutism support in Wiltshire please visit:

Selective mutism

The NHS has produced a simple guide about the provision of winter flu jabs for people with additional needs.

YouTube: NHS England - Flu vaccinations for people with a learning disability (opens new window) 

Wiltshire Health and Care (WHC) is a partnership, focused solely on delivering improved community services in Wiltshire. Their services include, but are not limited to, the following:

• minor Injuries
• physiotherapy
• wheelchair access
• respiratory
• speech and language therapy
• continence
• community hospitals

To find out more please visit: Wiltshire Health and Care: Our services (opens new window).

The Hearing and Vision team (Within Adult social care) provide a range of services to people who are blind, have limited or impaired sight, are deaf or have an acquired hearing loss. They also help people who are deafblind, which is also known as dual sensory impairment (a person who has a significant combination of hearing and sight loss). If you are experiencing problems with day-to-day living such as using a telephone, preparing meals or being active in the community, the Hearing and Vision team can help. If you have been diagnosed with audio visual needs you may find that the GP refers you to this team.

Hearing and Vision Team (opens new window)

The Hearing & Vision Team work closely with Children Services.  Any person who is transitioning over to adult services with a hearing loss or vision impairment is entitled to an assessment if they have ongoing needs. Support is then given to help achieve those needs and case closed when completed. Once in the Adult system new referrals can be raised should needs change at any point in the future.

Further information can be found on the adult care website, please visit:

Help for people with hearing and vision impairment (opens new window)

Hearing and Vision Team leaflet 2022 (PDF) [277KB] (opens new window)

Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs) provide care, treatment and support to adults from the age of 18 years and over with a range of mental health needs.

If you, or the person you care for, are referred to our service, we will support your journey through mental health services. Our team will carry out an assessment and work with you to develop an individual care plan, risk management plan and crisis plan.

We also work closely with GPs, community services, third sector, psychiatric hospitals, and other service providers. 

Referrals to our CMHTs can be made by GPs and other healthcare professionals via the Primary Care Liaison Service (PCLS). Our service is available to adults from the age of 18 years and over with complex mental health needs, who are registered with a GP in Wiltshire. Referrals are also accepted from other access services, including:   

• intensive services 
• acute hospital liaison teams
• mental health inpatient units

To find a GP, use Find a GP (nhs.uk) (opens new window). For further information please visit the CMHT website Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP): Community Mental Health Teams (opens new window).

Wiltshire SHOUT 

Wiltshire residents can text WILTS to 85258 to access free, confidential mental health support from a trained volunteer who will aim to get them to a safe and calm place. This will include coming up with a plan around how they are going to support themselves moving forward, and signposting to local support agencies where appropriate. They can help with anxiety and stress, depression or sadness, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, panic attacks, loneliness or isolation, abuse and bullying.

This service is available to Wiltshire residents of all ages, it is available 24/7 and won't appear on the bill.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is an NHS service that helps children and young people under the age of 18 years. 

We provide assessment and support to children, young people and their families who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties. 

To find out more please visit:

CAMHS (opens new window)

CHC services are for people who, because of a primary health need, are eligible for NHS CHC. This includes adults, 18 and over, who may have complex physical disabilities, learning disabilities, and/or complex emotional and psychological needs.

CHC is not based on a particular diagnosis but on the needs which arise from a diagnosis. To determine a person's needs, a comprehensive health needs assessment is completed by multi-disciplinary health and social care professionals, using the national tools set out by the Department of Health.

For more information and how to access these services please visit Continuing Healthcare (bsw.icb.nhs.uk) (opens new window).

Referrals for palliative care and hospices advice will usually come from continuing healthcare professionals already working with children and young people. You can find additional support and information on Together for short lives (togetherforshortlives.org.uk) (opens new window). On the site there are helplines and information about support on the various stages of healthcare need.

Close to Wiltshire is the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children which is a potential point of referral to their Paediatric Palliative Care and Bereavement Support team (uhbristol.nhs.uk) (opens new window).

You may also find it useful to complete the form for the recommended summary plan for emergency care and treatment (ReSPECT) (opens new window), which has been implemented across BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire from 4 October 2021. The ReSPECT form documents a patient's personalised recommendations for their clinical care and treatment in a future emergency in which they are unable to make or express choices. It replaces and builds on information held in a Treatment Escalation Plan.

Julia's House

Julia's House is not a typical children's hospice. They provide practical and emotional support for families caring for a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition, providing frequent and regular support in their own homes, in the community or at their hospices.

For more information please visit: Julia's House (juliashouse.org) (opens new window).

Naomi House and Jacksplace

Naomi House and Jacksplace are hospices supporting life limited and life threatened children and young adults. When a child or young adult is diagnosed with a life limiting condition, Naomi House and Jacksplace can become their home from home. Their nursing, care, play and family support teams are experts in delivering the crucial emotional, spiritual, developmental, clinical and holistic care that children and young adults with some of the most complex medical needs require. 

They offer vital respite support, giving families the chance to recharge their batteries and regroup in a calm, fun and welcoming environment. In times of emergency they are there, giving families the help they need through difficult times. And at the end of a child or young adult's life, they pull out all the stops to give them a peaceful and dignified end, surrounded by loved ones.

For more information please visit: Naomi House (naomihouse.org.uk) (opens new window).

Charlton Farm

Charlton Farm aims to help and support families who face the emotional and physical strain of caring for children who, sadly, are not expected to live into adulthood. This does not make Charlton Farm a sad place, although sadnesses are faced together. Charlton Farm is a place of love, happiness and friendship. They hope to provide a haven, a place where children and their families can be nurtured and cosseted, returning home with renewed vigour and a sense of anticipation for the next visit. 

For more information please visit: Charlton Farm - children's Hospice (chsw.org.uk) (opens new window).

Jessie May - Home Support

Specialist Jessie May nurses provide at home nursing and respite care for children and young people that have a terminal or life-limiting condition throughout the South West.

They have been providing free specialist at home support since 1996, and it is only through the generosity of their supporters that they can continue to be there for families for many years to come.

For more information please visit: Jessie May - Hospice at Home (jessiemay.org.uk) (opens new window).

Dynamic support registers (DSRs) and Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews (C(E)TRs) are essential elements of the pathway providing people with a learning disability and autistic people with appropriate support and care at the right time - so that they can lead the lives they want to and meet their ambitions and aspirations; and can stay safely and healthily in the community or return to this as soon as possible.

The purpose of the Dynamic Support Register (DSR) is to identify people who with appropriate, proactive intervention and support can be prevented from unnecessary or inappropriate admission to mental health or specialist hospitals.

The DSR process enables an opportunity for communication where a person's support needs can be reviewed, and issues escalated where appropriate.

To find out more visit:

Dynamic Support Register

A personal budget is the money Wiltshire Council allocates to an individual to meet their assessed support needs.

An outcome based assessment will be carried out to establish an approximate figure for how much the council would need to spend to meet an individual's needs.

A personal health budget is the money that can be made available to a child or young person with complex, long-term and/or life-limiting health conditions, who is assessed as needing continuing health care.

100% of continuing care eligible children (under 18s) are offered a Personal Health Budget as a mechanism to deliver personalised care.

Currently there are 14 eligible children in Wiltshire, 9 of which have their care provided via a Personal Health Budget.

7 of these children have EHCPs. The primary offer is a Personal Health Budget, there is no application process per se. Not all Parents/Carers would seek this route, instead preferring to take up existing community care packages.