Forward Mid Directory 2019

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Midlothian Wellbeing Team

The Wellbeing Team

What the wellbeing team can offer:

How can I access and use the service?

You can ask your GP or another health professional to refer you. One of the Wellbeing Practitioners will contact you within two weeks of your referral to schedule a first meeting. The meeting can take place at the GP practice or somewhere else if you would prefer.

For further information Contact:
Leanne Connolly: 07342035670
Sandra Mackenzie: 07876 035 660

Emma Holland 0131 656 7346 (Wellbeing Administrator)

The Wellbeing Team is a partnership between Thistle Foundation and NHS Lothian and Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership.

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NHSNational Health Service 24

When should I call NHSNational Health Service 24?

If your GP surgery is closed and you are too ill to wait until it re-opens, phone NHS 24 Scotland 111 or (BSL speakers, use contactscotland-bsl.org/). If you phone us, we will ask you where you are phoning from and why you have phoned. This will help NHS24 Scotland make sure you get the right help. When NHS24 Scotland know why you have phoned NHS24 Scotland will put you through to a health professional. They will talk to you about your symptoms and tell you what care they think you need. They might suggest that you treat yourself at home, that you see a doctor or another health professional or, in some cases, they might call an ambulance for you.

NHS Scotland Helpline run by Patient Advice & Support Service- 0800 917 2127 If you think your life is in danger and you need an emergency ambulance, always phone 999. If you are looking for urgent advice on caring for yourself, you can visit www.nhs24.scot/ and use our Self-help Guide which will help to direct you to the right care.

When you call NHSNational Health Service 24

You will hear a message explaining that all calls are recorded as part of your patient record and may be used anonymously for research purposes.

Your call will then be answered by a highly trained call handler. The call handler will introduce themselves and ask you clear questions that are easy to follow. We do not have access to your GP medical record, so the details we ask for are important in case we need to get you help quickly or we need to call you back. This part of the call will take a couple of minutes.

You will be asked to provide the following details about yourself or the person you are calling for:

If a doctors has to attend.

Most records are now stored on the NHSNational Health Service computer database and can be accessed by the doctor that is attending you. If a doctor does have to attend you please be patient as your records may be long and they may need to be read more than once.

What pharmacies provide:

If you are registered with a GP in Scotland your community pharmacist can provide a minor ailment service. Your pharmacist can offer advice and can generate the paperwork and supply you with a limited source of medication.

Many pharmacies are open when your GP surgery is shut (evenings, weekends and on public holidays). You don’t even need to make an appointment to speak to your local pharmacist.

Your local pharmacist provides lots of services and can help if you need help with a minor ailment service.

If you think that someone’s life is at risk you should call 999 right away.

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NHS Minor Ailment Service

What is the NHS minor ailment service?

Everyone can go to their pharmacist for advice or to buy a medicine for a minor illness or ailment. There is a NHS service for people who would not have paid prescription charges under the old system. If your pharmacist thinks you need it then they can give you a medicine on the NHS without you having to pay for it.

Who is the service for?

You can use the NHS Minor Ailment Service if:

How does it work?

You register for the service with the community pharmacy of your choice.

How do I register?

What does the service offer?

You can get advice and free treatment from your community pharmacist for minor illnesses and ailments such as:

Acne

Athlete’s foot

Back Ache

Cold sores

Constipation

Cough

Diarrhoea

Ear Ache

Eczema

Allergies

Hay fever

Headache

Head lice

Indigestion

Mouth ulcers

Piles

Period Pain

Thrush

Sore throat

Threadworms

Colds

Teething

Warts

Verrucas

Nasal Congestion

Can I still go to other pharmacies?

Yes. You can still use other pharmacies to buy medicines or to pick up prescriptions.

But remember, you can only use the NHS Minor Ailment Service at the community pharmacy you’ve registered with.

If you want to go to another community pharmacy for the NHS Minor Ailment Service, you can. But you will need to register with the new pharmacy.

How to find out more

For more information contact:

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Pharmacies

The Apothecary, The Chemist, or The Pharmacy as it is now commonly known has changed over the years, not only in name but with the services we now provide to the public. A pharmacist goes through extensive training before qualifying, undergoing a four year degree course at university followed by a post graduate training year known as the Pre-Registration year, after which a final exam must be passed before they are able to work as a fully qualified pharmacist in either community, hospital or in industry. To alleviate pressures in GP practices and hospital casualty departments, pharmacy has been tasked to offer a vast range of services, which they are ably qualified and trained in administering.

Your first port of call in non emergency situations should always be your local pharmacy, where you will either be given advice and treatment, or if necessary referred to your GP. Services which are provided: The Minor Ailment Service, where you can register with your local pharmacy, have a consultation when you will be given appropriate advice, treatment or referral. It covers a varied and extensive range of ailments from coughs and colds to skin conditions, free of charge if you are eligible. Medicine Care Review, where you may be invited by your pharmacist to talk about your medicines, to make sure you are taking them correctly or if there are any issues, they may then inform your GP with your permission, if there is a problem to have it rectified if necessary. You may then be put on a service called Serial Dispensing if appropriate, for your repeat medication, which makes accessing your medicines simpler and quicker. Repeat Medication Service, where your ongoing medication can be ordered directly by the pharmacy usually on a two monthly cycle, and picked up at the pharmacy at your allotted date.

Multi-compartment Compliance Aids (MCA's), where if appropriate medication can be dispensed in weekly trays, mainly for patients who are on a lot of medication and or if they are confused or forgetful.

Palliative Care Pharmacies, where certain pharmacies keep an extensive stock of controlled and anticipatory drugs, and are on call for emergency situations.

Flu Vaccination Service, where you can have a flu jab administered at a cost of around £10, but this may be a free service in the near future, for specific groups of the population.

Travel Clinics, some pharmacies offer this service, where you can get all the relevant health information and treatment, for your exotic holidays, at a cost. Blood Pressure Monitoring, Diabetes and Cholesterol checks, can be undertaken at your local pharmacies free of charge (exception cholesterol checks)

Gluten Free (GF) Service, where we can prescribe GF Products free of charge to patients who have been assessed by GP and or Dietician.

Stop Smoking Service, where you will be supported through a 12 week course with weekly treatment and advice. You are 4 times more likely to stop smoking with this service which is free.

Substance Misuse Service, to support with addictions and supply opiate substitutes. Pharmacy First, a newish service that at the moment covers urinary tract infections and impetigo which allows a pharmacist to prescribe antibiotics if appropriate. This service will be extended in the near future to cover other ailments requiring antibiotics. Emergency Hormonal Contraception 'The morning after pill' can be supplied free of charge after a consultation and if is deemed appropriate. Chlamydia Service, where antibiotics will be prescribed on presentation of a voucher given by a health professional, free of charge.

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Podiatry

The Podiatry service provides a high quality, fully comprehensive foot health service for conditions affecting the lower limb. We assess, treat and advise patients with foot health disorders in order to maintain and maximise their quality of life and so encourage a healthy active life with feet that function normally and without discomfort.

When is the Service Open?
Monday to Thursday 08:30 hrs. to 17:00 hrs
Friday 08:30 hrs to 16:00 hrs

The Service is available, regardless of age, for those with a podiatric/medical need. All new patients must attend an assessment appointment at one of the clinics listed below.

Patients who are housebound may be treated at home. This means that the patient is unable to leave their home on any regular basis, without the assistance of Healthcare or Social Care personnel using an ambulance or patient transport vehicle. If the patient is able to leave their home on a regular basis to visit the doctor, hairdresser or shops, either alone or with the assistance of a friend or relative, we will expect them to visit their local clinic. Home visit patients must be referred by the GP or District Nurse.

NHS Lothian Podiatry Department - www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/Podiatry.pdf Use link to download form, Patients can self refer for a clinic visit by filling out an application form. GP's or other health care professionals can also make referrals if they wish.

At the first appointment, A full podiatric assessment will be undertaken. A treatment plan will be negotiated with the patient. The outcome of this could be:

Biomechanics

This clinic assesses the lower limb and foot. If appropriate, an supportive insole can be prescribed to correct or limit abnormal foot function. This service is not generally appropriate where arthritic changes have taken place.

Nail surgery

In some cases, painful nails can be partially or completely removed under local analgesia. The nail bed is destroyed using phenol.

Diabetic clinics

Diabetic patients who attend our clinics receive an annual foot assessment in line NHS Lothian Guidelines. Higher risk patients may be seen more often. Low risk patients should not be referred to the service but seen within their GP practice.

Appliance laboratory

The Podiatry Department has a fully equipped laboratory for the manufacture of prescription insoles. Simple footwear modifications are also undertaken.

Midlothian Assessment Centres

 Bonnyrigg Health Centre, 109-111 High Street

 Mon - Thurs

 Dalkeith Health Centre, 24/26 St Andrew Street

 Daily

 Newbattle MG Blackcot Ave, Mayfield

 Wed, Thurs

 Penicuik Health Centre, 37 Imrie Place

 Mon - Wed

For enquiries about the service, please contact us Tel: 0131 536 1627

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Rapid Response Falls Service

Falls are one of the most common injuries in the home.

A fall at home does not always mean a hospital admission. The Rapid Response Falls Service can assist you to get back to your feet.

The Service provides help to transfer and settle people who have fallen at home. If you are uninjured and require assistance to settle, the Rapid Response Falls Service will help you regain your composure, settle you comfortably and attend to any personal care needs.

The Rapid Response Falls Service is on call 24 hours a day. 0131 270 8890

www.nhsinform.scot/aboutfalls

Falls Assessment

An online falls assessment that enables you to self assess the key falls risks relevant to you and offer appropriate support and self-management advice. It has been developed with people who have had falls or are at a high risk of falling, along with local falls support professions.

fallsassistant.org.uk/

Age Scotland provides a falls prevention booklet, request a copy 0800 12 44 222

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The Smart Centre

The SMART Centre provides a wide range of rehabilitation technology services for the South East of Scotland, covering Lothian, Fife and the Borders. These include mobility and postural services (wheelchairs and special seating), prosthetics, and bioengineering services, a Disabled Living Centre and Gait Analysis Service. We also provide a National Driving Assessment Service.

The Wheelchair and Seating Service

This service provides a service to over 24,000 adults and 2,600 children across Lothian, Fife and Borders. The service includes individualised special wheelchair seating for people whose needs cannot be met using off-the-shelf equipment.

The Prosthetics Service

This Service provides upper and lower limb prosthetic care The service aims to provide a high level of care for amputees and others requiring prosthetic assistance. It provides prostheses, where appropriate, and life long care to the patient to ensure that their prosthesis is maintained and continues to meet their individual needs where possible.

Driving Assessment

This service offers driving assessment and/or advice for people who wish to commence, resume or continue driving after illness or injury, and also advises on vehicle modifications to enable safe driving or passenger travel for those with a disability.

Assessments are carried out by a therapist and/or a doctor and generally include:

Electronic Assistive Technology (EAT) service

Environmental control equipment enables very severely disabled people who would otherwise be unable to do so to control electrical equipment, such as telephones, pagers, intercoms, door locks, table lamps and home entertainment equipment such as TVs, DVD players, cable/satellite boxes community alarms, door openers, curtain openers and page turner. It is also possible to enable control of a microcomputer to be achieved via the environmental control system.

Use of the equipment enables the patient to recover a measure of independence, makes continued care at home easier for the relatives and can delay or prevent permanent admission to hospital. Supply of the equipment may also make it feasible to discharge home a patient who would otherwise have to remain in hospital.

Specialised powered wheelchair control systems are programmable devices which can be configured to suit the needs of the patient.

A range of controller options are available, including standard and very low force joysticks as well as interfaces that enable the control of powered wheelchairs using either single switches or groups of switches. The service also provides specialised switches, switch mounts, communication aid mounts and specialised aids to communication.

This part of the service involves joint assessment along with the referring therapist, and then either the modification of commercially available equipment or, alternatively, the design and manufacture of specialised devices.

Special Needs Design Service

This service provides custom designed or modified equipment where standard or commercially available equipment is not available. Our objective is to assist people in meeting their rehabilitation aims, and hence we can provide equipment for use in the home, workplace or to facilitate established leisure interests. We are, however, mainly involved with the following categories of equipment.

The SMART Centre accept referrals from Allied Health Professionals, especially Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Prosthetists, and work closely with the referrer throughout the development process. We regret however that we are unable to manufacture devices which are already commercially available, or supply the equipment to be modified.

SMART Centre
Astley Ainslie Hospital
133 Grange Loan
Edinburgh
EH9 2HL
Tel: 0131 537 9177
www.smart.scot.nhs.uk

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Alzheimer Scotland

What Alzheimer Scotland can do for you?

Welcome to Alzheimer Scotland’s support in Midlothian. Alzheimer Scotland want to make sure nobody faces dementia alone, through every stage of the illness. From the concerns you may have prior to diagnosis through to the advanced stages of dementia, we’re here to support you, or the person you care for, to live well with dementia.

Alzheimer Scotland would welcome the opportunity to speak with you to provide you with more detailed information on how Alzheimer Scotland can support you.

If you need to talk to someone outside office hours, our freephone, 24 hour Dementia Helpline is always there – call 0808 808 3000. Please note: if you have chosen to hide your caller ID (so that your number will not show up on the display of any telephone that you call), please dial 1470 before calling the Dementia Helpline. Otherwise we will be unable to receive your call.

Alzheimer Scotland dedicated, experienced and highly-trained team can give you the information, advice and support you need to live well with dementia, to make important decisions about what matters to you, and to plan for your future.

Support available from Alzheimer Scotland in Midlothian

We aim to offer a range of flexible services designed to meet people’s needs in the Midlothian area. If you are interested in any of our services, or simply need someone to talk to, contact us using the details below. You can also contact your local social work department, your GP or Community Mental Health Team.

The Blue Badge form for Risk in Traffic is the one for people with a cognitive impairment, including dementia. You need to be in receipt of Attendance Allowance also, and a “professional” needs to be a signatory; Alzheimer Scotland can support with the application. You cannot aply on line for this Blue Badge. please visit www.midlothian.gov.uk/ and scroll down until you find Blue Badge Cognitive Impairment form and download the form here.

Alzheimer Scotland Office:

Alzheimer Scotland have an office at:
3 Edinburgh Road,
Dalkeith,
Midlothian, EH22 1LA.
The office is staffed Monday-Friday 9.00 am - 2.30 pm,
please call: 0131 654 1114
email: midandeastlothianservices@alzscot.org

For more information, Please check our website at www.alzscot.org and search ‘Support’.

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Medical Conditions websites

Acoustic Neuroma

www.bana-uk.com/

Addison Disease

www.addisonsdisease.org.uk/

Aids & HIV

www.tht.org.uk/

Alzheimer’s Disease

www.alzscot.org/

Ankylosing Spondylitis

nass.co.uk/

Anorexia

www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/

Anxiety

www.mind.org.uk/

Arthritis

www.versusarthritis.org/

Asthma

www.asthma.org.uk/

Ataxia

www.ataxia.org.uk/

Autism

www.autism.org.uk/

Behcet’s Disease

behcets.org.uk/

Bipolar

www.bipolaruk.org/

Bowel Cancer

www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/

Brain and Spine Foundation

www.brainandspine.org.uk/

Breast Cancer

breastcancernow.org/

Cancer

www.cancerresearchuk.org/

Cerebral palsy

www.capability-scotland.org.uk/

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease

www.cmt.org.uk/

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

www.meassociation.org.uk/

Crohn’s Disease

www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/

CRPS & RSD

www.burningnightscrps.org/

Cystic Fibrosis

www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk/

Deafness or Hearing Impaired

www.deafaction.org/

Deep Vein Thrombosis

www.nhsinform.scot/

Dementia

www.dementiauk.org/

Depression

www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

Diabetes

www.diabetes.org.uk/

Disabled Children

www.theyardscotland.org.uk/

Epilepsy

www.epilepsyscotland.org.uk/

Fibromyalgia

ukfibromyalgia.com/

Gastroenteritis

www.nhsinform.scot/

Glandular Fever

www.nhsinform.scot/

Glomerulonephritis

www.infokid.org.uk/glomerulonephritis

Gout

www.nhsinform.scot/

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

gaincharity.org.uk/

Hearing Impairment

www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/

Hemianopia

www.readright.ucl.ac.uk/

Haemophilia

haemophilia.org.uk/

Hepatitis

www.nhsinform.scot/

Hodgkins Lymphoma

lymphoma-action.org.uk/

Huntington’s Disease

www.hda.org.uk/

Hydrocephalus

www.sbhscotland.org.uk/

Hyperhidrosis

www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk/

Hyperthyroidism

www.nhsinform.scot/

Insomnia

www.sleepsociety.org.uk/

Irriatable Bowel Syndrome

gutscharity.org.uk/

Joint Mobility and Hypermobility

hypermobility.org/

Kaposi’s Sarcoma

www.macmillan.org.uk/

Kidney Dialysis or Failure

www.kidney.org.uk/

Lung Cancer

www.cancerresearchuk.org/

Lupus or Systemic Lupus

www.lupusuk.org.uk/

Lyme Disease

www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/

Marfan Syndrome

www.marfan.org/

Meningitis

www.meningitis.org/

Myasthenia Gravis

www.myaware.org/

Myocardial Infarction / T.I.A.

www.chss.org.uk/

Motor Neurone Disease

www.mndscotland.org.uk/

Multiple Sclerosis

www.mssociety.org.uk/

Narcolepsy

www.narcolepsy.org.uk/

Oesophageal Cancer

www.macmillan.org.uk/

Osteoporosis

theros.org.uk/

Paget’s Disease

paget.org.uk/

Parkinson’s

www.parkinsons.org.uk/

Pleurisy

www.nhsinform.scot/

Restricted growth

rgauk.org/

Seasonal Affective Disorder

www.mind.org.uk/

Schizophrenia

www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

Sepsis

sepsistrust.org/

Scoliosis / Kyphosis

www.sauk.org.uk/

Sjogren’s Syndrome

www.bssa.uk.net/

Slipped Disc

backcare.org.uk/

Spina Bifida

www.sbhscotland.org.uk/

Spinal Muscular Dystrophy

www.curesma.org/

Stroke

www.bhf.org.uk/

Tourette’s Syndrome

www.tourettes-action.org.uk/

Tremors Essential

tremor.org.uk/

Visual Impairment

www.rnib.org.uk/

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Midlothian Care Support

If you have been affected by cancer and live in Midlothian, we are here to support you.

We recognise that cancer can affect every part of your life, so we provide a person centred approach which can include access to the following:

Whatever you need, this service can support you or give you details of the organisations that can help.

Appointments are available:

To make an appointment phone: 07909 257419 or contact your local GP Practices.

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MS Therapy Centre Lothian

The MS Therapy Centre Lothian is a small independent charity based in Leith which offers a range of subsidised services to people living with MS and other long-term health conditions.

The baro-chamber provides oxygen treatment which can help alleviate some of the symptoms of MS, Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia and can be very effective for reducing inflammation and healing wounds or diabetic ulcers.

The Physiotherapy team at the MS Therapy Centre are very experienced neuro-physios and can help with exercise programmes, assessments, acupuncture or recommend one of the many exercise classes held each week at the Centre.

The Centre also runs adapted Yoga and Pilates classes and has a range of visiting complementary therapists offering aromatherapy, massage, reflexology, reiki, myofascial release, hypnotherapy and Thai foot massage.

MS Therapy Centre Lothian
40c Swanfield
Edinburgh EH6 5RX
0131 554 5384
Email: administrator@mstc-lothian.org.uk
www.mstc-lothian.org.uk/

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Patient Information Centre

The Patient Information Centre is open (9 am - 5 pm weekdays) to patients, relatives, carers, the public and staff, and is free of charge.

It has come about as a direct result of the feedback patient information centre have obtained from thousands of patients in our surveys. They continue to tell us that they would like more and better information.

Central to our efforts to give people better information is SMILE which stands for System for Managing Information in Lothian and Edinburgh. This is a computer-based system of information. Staff in Lothian came up with the idea while trying to work out how to solve the information and communication problems which patients told us they faced every day. Information in SMILE can be in words, photos or videos, and is about exactly what happens to patients being treated in hospitals in Lothian. Not all departments have their information on the system yet but many do so please ask staff to tell you more. Information can be printed on request from SMILE. Patient information centre can also direct you to other helpful website's and explain how they work, if you are someone who uses a computer.

Information is in the form of leaflets and books. These contain reference copies of all the information used by clinics and wards in the Royal. Patient information centre are happy to provide copies of any of these for people to take away or patient information centre can send information out by post. Please ask Also, if you aren’t sure where to find what you’re looking for, please ask a member of staff because the patient information centre have each piece of information on a list under different headings which the staff at patient information centre can easily search. If you want information on a topic that the patient information centre don’t appear to have covered please let us know and we will do our best to find it for you.

The Centre is staffed by NHS employees and trained volunteers. It is still being developed

contact details
Patient information Centre
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
Tel: 0131 242 7660
Email: patientinfo@luht.scot.nhs.uk

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Blue Badge Scheme in Midlothian

The Blue Badge Scheme provides parking concessions nationally and across Europe for people with a permanent and substantial disability, whether that person is the driver or a passenger. The holder of a Blue Badge is permitted to park in areas normally subject to restrictions and benefits those who are incapable to walk great distances.

Brand-new applicants for a Blue Badge can apply either online or by paper application form [BB 001]. If you use the printed form, you can submit the completed form [with one colour passport-style photo with your name printed on the back] along with the supporting documents and £20 fee [except for those completing Section 3 where payment is taken later] direct to the Travel Permits and Passes Team at Midlothian House.

The fee can be paid by cheque or postal order if sent with your completed form by post to the Travel Permits and Passes Team. The fee can be paid by cash, cheque, postal order or credit/debit card if you personally hand in the form at the counter at Buccleuch House in Dalkeith. You can apply and pay by credit card at Newbattle Library, 1 Newbattle Way, Easthouses, Dalkeith, EH22 4SX. Cheques must be made payable to “Midlothian Council”.

Online application is done via www.mygov.scot/apply-blue-badge. You will be able to enter personal details, answer an array of questions and arrange payment by credit/debit card. However, there is no facility to scan and store all the documents the Council needs to see, and at the conclusion of the online process, you will receive a list of items that you will need to take to the Council at either Buccleuch House, Dalkeith or Newbattle Library.

For Blue Badge Renewals [after an existing Blue Badge expires.] use the form BB 001. Please do not attempt to use the online screen for anything other than brand-new applications as this will result in delays in processing your request. Remembering to renew a Blue Badge is the badge holder’s responsibility – A reminder letter is no longer sent out by the Midlothian Travel Permits and Passes Team. However, if you have a valid email or mobile phone number we can send an email/text to remind you.

For Blue Badge replacements [for lost, stolen or damaged cards] use form BB 005. If the Blue Badge has been lost or stolen, this fact must be reported to Police Scotland. Contact a local police station or Phone 112. You will be required to make a statement. The Police will give you a reference number to be quoted on BB 005 form. The Blue Badge is a legal document. Should it reappear you must inform the police, do not use the rediscovered Blue Badge as it is longer valid. If your Blue Badge has been damaged it must be handed in with the BB 005 form.

If you move address, then there is a form for that too! You need a “Change of Circumstances” form [CC 001]. Use this to advise any changes in your personal details, from a change of address, to a change of name [getting married or divorced, for example]. Please use this form as soon as the circumstances change – do not wait until you need a Blue Badge renewal, for instance, before sending in the “Change of Circumstances” form. Complete and return your form. The Travel Permits and Passes Team will update records for your Blue Badge, Bus Pass and Ring & Go.

ALL APPLICANTS COMPLETE SECTIONS 1 AND 7 ON THE FORM.

Applicants will be automatically eligible for a Blue Badge if they can produce appropriate documentation dated within the previous 12 months. Complete sections 1, 2 and 7 if any of the following apply.

Applicants should produce their original documents with their form if handing them in personally at Buccleuch House or Newbattle Library. Original documents will be handed back to you after being checked by staff. Arrange for a certified photocopy of the documentation if using a postal application, to be sent directly to the Travel Permits and Passes Team at Midlothian House. Original documents sent by post will not be returned.

For those with a disability in both arms who have difficulty using parking meters or pay machines, please complete sections 1, 4 and 7.

For parents or guardians of applicants under the age of three who have a specific condition as detailed in the form, please complete sections 1, 5 and 7.

Further assessment will be needed for all applicants who do not fall within one of the above categories. Please complete sections 1, 3 and 7.

Circumstances covered by Section 3 “Subject to Further Assessment” include

Applicants completing Section 3 may be invited to an “Independent Mobility Assessment” with a medical professional appointed by the Council. Assessments do not involve any physical examination. The applicant can take a spouse or companion with them for support.

You will receive a letter from the Travel Permits and Passes Team giving you a date, time and venue to attend the assessment. If you cannot make the appointment, please let the Travel Permits and Passes Team know as soon as possible as they may be able to offer your time slot to someone else. Assessments sessions are held each month, most Section 3 applicants are seen within four to six weeks although certain times of the year see a higher demand.

The Medical Professional will decide to accept or reject the application. You will be notified of the result by the Travel Permits and Passes Team by email, phone or letter. If your application is accepted, you will need to make arrangements to pay the £20 Blue Badge fee. If the application is rejected, you will be advised of the appeal procedure if you are unhappy with the outcome.

The Blue Badge Scheme was extended to include those with a Mental Disorder or Cognitive Impairment by the Scottish Government in 2016. Use the separate form BB003 for this Blue Badge. BB003s are available at all Midlothian libraries, main Council offices, health centres at Pathhead and Penicuik, the Midlothian Community Hospital and the Rosewell Development Trust.

Assistance in filling out the Blue Badge scheme forms can be obtained from Citizens Advice Bureau see Citizens Advice entry

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