Other Sources of ME/CFS Support in Norfolk.
The NHS Norfolk ME/CFS Service
N.B. We recommend referal to this service as it can help with multiple aspects of living with ME or CFS including having medical reports to support benefits claims.
The NHS Norfolk and Suffolk ME/CFS Service (click here to visit webpage)
GPs can refer patients to this service for confirmation of diagnosis and/or management advice and support.
Head Office:
Norfolk & Suffolk ME/CFS Service.
Herbert Matthes Block
Northgate Hospital
Northgate Street
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
NR30 1BU
Norfolk’s regional support group.
“ME Support Norfolk “
This group holds monthly meetings in Norwich and is working hard to make lives easier for people with ME and CFS in Norfolk.
North-Norfolk ME/CFS Support
Meeting monthly at Sheringham
This is a new group starting on 3rd September 2016. It will meet in St. Peter’s, adjoining hall. NR26 8QS. It has been born out of Elevate and shares administrative work. Therefore you can find the dates for the group on this website and sign-up to the newsletter here. For detailed directions of enquiries about the north-Norfolk group please contact Kath 01263 740044 or katieann39@btinternet.com
Provides advice and support in areas such as direct payments/personal health budgets, benefits, advocacy, housing and access.
Better access to the community. Scope is a charity which aims to give people with disabilities more opportunities. One of the ways they do this is by providing volunteers who can help get people out into the community. The website says this can include helping people with disabilities get to social clubs. So if you have transport issues getting to Elevate this might be something that could help you. You can find out more at the following link.http://www.scope.org.uk/support/services-directory/support-disabled-adults-access-community-1
Norfolk Carers Support and Information
Carers agency partnership
Carers Council for Norfolk
If you are a carer in Norfolk, on the ‘Norfolk Carers Information’ website you can find information, sources of support, guidance in maintaining your own health and well-being, practical help, transport and getting about, getting a break, money matters, planning ahead, learning and work opportunities – and your rights as an unpaid carer. There are also details of carers groups in your area, events for carers and news.
Carers Agency Partnership Helpline
0808 808 9876
Open 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday, 10am – 2pm Saturday
Benefits Advice
At present it is generally recognised that the ‘Work Capability Assessment’ for ESA is not seeing a high success rate at accurately assessing people’s work capability, especially with peoplewho have variable health conditions. This isleading to a high percentage of appeals beingsuccessful and it is likely more will be successful if they receive good assistance and advice for the process claiming and being reassessed for.
Benefits advice and assistance through ‘ME Support Norfolk.’
Benefits assistance with a high degree of expertise and claim/appeal success may well be available through ME Support Norfolk and Dan Ward 01263 861521.
This group’s benefits advisor Dan Ward visits Elevate on a regular basis and often talks through benefits issues on a one to one basis.
‘Benefits and Work’ is an independant organisation providing comprehensive downloadable guides for assistance with forms and appeals. www.benefitsandwork.co.uk
However having a the benefits advisor mentioned on this page may well be more helpful or compliment the advice from ‘Benefits and Work’ downloadable guides. The former costs less than a membership to ME Support Norfok.