A guide to services in Bristol

Southmead Hospital

Phone: 0117 950 5050

Southmead Outpatients Appointments Number

Phone: 0300 555 0103

Bristol City Council Adult Social Care

Phone: 0117 922 2700

This team can help you if you struggle with tasks at home like washing and dressing, or cooking. They can direct you to other services if needed.

Sirona Care and Health

Phone: 0300 0125 6789
Email: sirch.bristolspa@nhs.net

Sirona provides community health and rehabilitation services. You will need to be referred to them by a healthcare professional.

Medequip

Phone: 0117 957 9140 or 0330 053 3655
Email: bnssg@medequip-uk.com

Medequip collect mobility aids and adaptions that you no longer need (if they were provided by the Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist). Or you can return equipment to a big blue bin outside the main entrance to the Brunel building, Southmead Hospital. The Move Maker volunteers can help you find them.

Going Home from Hospital Service - Bristol

Phone: 0117 928 1557

The Going Home from Hospital Service provides additional support for those leaving hospital by connecting you to community organisations and services. You will need to be referred to them by a healthcare professional.

If you cannot get to the shops for food/groceries or to the chemist then there are several options for support.

Phone shopping services

There are companies who can take your shopping order over the phone and deliver it to your door. Payment is normally by debit or credit card over the phone. Contact your local retailer directly to find out if they offer this service.

Online shopping services

Many supermarkets offer online home delivery for shopping/ groceries. There is often a delivery charge and a minimum spend. Payment is by debit or credit card. Check out supermarket websites for more information.

As well as supermarket chains, there are also stand-alone grocery delivery services, such as Milk and More, which deliver direct from selected suppliers.

Website: Milk Delivery Near Me | Fresh Milk Delivered | Milk & More
Phone: 0345 606 3606

Chemists

Many local chemists can deliver prescriptions to your home. Speak to your chemist about this. There may be a charge.

Getting to your local supermarket, shopping centre, or chemist

Community Transport services help people with limited mobility to travel door-to-door for shopping trips, medical appointments, and days out. Please see below for details of community transport in your area:

Bristol Community Transport (Dial-a-Ride)

This service is run in partnership with “The Big Lemon”

Phone: 0117 244 7337 or fill in the online form.
Website: Bristol Community Transport

They operate Monday to Friday, 09:00 - 17:00. 

You will need to register for this service. The fares are similar to normal public transport, or is free if you have a bus pass.

British Red Cross

Phone: 0117 301 2601
Website: The British Red Cross | Worldwide Humanitarian Charity
Email: FirstCallBristol@redcross.org.uk

The Red Cross can provide short-term services for people who live alone, or whose family and friends are not able to assist. Services include help with everyday tasks such as picking up prescriptions or shopping. You will need to call directly to discuss how they can help you.

Royal Voluntary Service

Website: The UK National Volunteer Charity | Royal Voluntary Service
Phone: 0117 905 5003

The volunteers work with healthcare teams and in communities providing practical help and emotional support when people are struggling to cope.

Bristol Community Meals (Meals on Wheels)

Phone: 0117 903 1520 or 0117 903 1522, 09:00 to 15:00
Website: Bristol Community Meals
Email: community.meals@bristol.gov.uk

Bristol Council’s community meals runs every day of the year for anyone who can’t cook for themselves. It is a flexible service so you choose how long, and on how may days a week you have meals delivered.

The delivery driver will also check you are well and will contact someone like a family member if you do not answer the door. Payment is made by direct debit and the team can help you with any paperwork.

Frozen ready meals delivered to your door

Many companies can deliver meals to you. You can call or place orders online with a credit or debit card, but some companies allow you to pay the driver with cash. There is a wide range of foods available for different diets such as vegetarian or pureed meals.

The meals can usually be heated in the oven or a microwave and come with full instructions. If you find the instructions difficult to read, your delivery driver can re-label your meals to make this easier to understand.

Oakhouse Foods

Website: Ready Meals | Oakhouse Foods
Phone: 0333 370 6700

Meals must be stored in a freezer.

Parsley Box – minimum order value

Website: Parsley Box | Homepage
Phone: 0131 326 0131

Meals do not need fridge or freezer storage. Delivery to front door only.

Wiltshire Farm Foods

Website: Ready Meals Delivered - Wiltshire Farm Foods
Phone: 01275 371 993
Meals must be stored in a freezer.

Home adaptations and equipment can help you to:

• Enter and leave your home.
• Wash, bathe and use the toilet.
• Use living and sleeping areas.
• Use food preparation and cooking areas.
• Access the garden.
• Reduce risks in your home related to your condition.

Bristol City Council Adult Social Care (listed under useful numbers) help adults who need home adaptions. There may be a waiting list and there are criteria for funding. It may also be helpful to contact the services below or Well Aware (listed under Wellbeing Support). 

We Care Home Improvements

Phone: 0300 323 0700
Email: info@wecr.org.uk
Website: We Care Home Improvements

We Care provide a chargeable handyman and home adaptation service. These services include:

• Installing grab rails.
• Supplying and fitting a key safe.
• Repairing window handles.
• Gutter clearing.
• Fixing taps.
• Basic gardening.
• Bathroom and kitchen adaptations.
• ‘Making space’ service with peer support group.
• Home independence centre (appointment only).

WECR also have a showroom in St Phillips where you can view and trial equipment and adaptations in a home setting. Occupational Therapists can assess your needs for the most appropriate aids, arrange to order and install (for a cost) any of the larger items, and will direct you to local suppliers or retailers for smaller aids.

Aids and adaptations include:

• Stair lifts.
• Through-floor lifts.
• Automatic toilets and toilet equipment.
• Phonecare.
• Level access showers and bathing equipment.
• Steps and ramps.
• Seating.
• Beds.
• Dressing aids.
• Kitchen equipment.

Several shops in the area sell or hire aids and equipment to increase independence around the home. These may be available second hand.

If you are unsure what you need, speak to your Occupational Therapist.

Access Able - Bedminster

Website: Home - Access Able
Phone: 0117 980 1820

Sell, hire, repair, service and insure a range of products from mobility scooters, stairlifts and wheelchairs to small daily-living aids.

BES Healthcare – Ashton Vale

Website: Daily Living Assistance | England | BES Rehab Ltd Online Shop
Phone: 0117 966 6761

Sell a broad range of skincare, footcare, seating, assistive technology, and daily-living aids.

Bristol Mobility Centre – St George

Website: Mobility Shop Bristol | Bristol Mobility Centre | Visit Now
Phone: 0117 951 5558

Sell, repair and service a range of products including wheelchairs, mobility scooters, powerchairs, beds, riser recliners, stairlifts, bath aids, walking aids and pressure care.

Centre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing – Vassal Centre, Fishponds

Website: Equipment Service - Centre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People
Phone: 0345 900 7830
SMS text/WhatsApp: 07545 264840
Email: equipment@cfd.org.uk

A centre funded by Bristol City Council to find out about hearing aids and equipment including things like flashing doorbells and TV listening devices. Some products are free if you are eligible.

Driving and Mobility Centre - Fishponds

Website: Home - Driving and Mobility
Phone: 0117 965 9353

Accredited Mobility Centre providing wheelchair, mobility scooter, and rollator trial and assessment, with Occupational Therapists available to advise. They can also do driving assessments to see if you need adaptions.

CareCo, Bristol

Website: Bristol Mobility Shop - CareCo Mobility Showroom in Filton
Phone: 0117 4504 722

Sell a selection of adaptive beds and chairs, mobility scooters, walking and transfer aids, hoists and slings, and aids for daily living.

ShopMobility – Cabot Circus

Phone: 0117 955 9083

Provide short or long term hire of mobility aids, wheelchairs, and scooters to help you access the local area. They also sell small mobility aids like radar keys. Phone them for more information.

Secondhand furniture shops

If following your hospital stay you have been advised that alternative furniture would benefit you to manage functionally at home, secondhand furniture shops may be able to provide what you need. You will need to visit the shops to see what they currently have available.

Odds and Todds

Website: Odd & Todds | Collectables Shop | Bristol
Shop: Hanham, Bristol, BS15 8PR
Phone: 0117 9612 166

Another Time Around

Website: Another Time Around
 Phone: 0117 949 0904

Free local delivery and online shop
Bishopston, Bristol, BS7 8NZ

British Heart Foundation

Website: Buy furniture and items for your home | BHF 

Shops:

• Horsefair, Bristol, BS1 3JQ
  Phone: 0117 3215023
• Brislington Retail Park, Bristol, BS4 5NG
  Phone: 0117 3221 801

Emmaus, Bristol

Website: Emmaus | Homelessness Charity in Bristol

Shops:

• Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4HL
  Phone: 0117 954 0886
• Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS2 8QL
  Phone: 0330 041 3138

SOFA Project

Website: Home | SOFA Project

Shops:

• Old Market, St Phillips, Bristol, BS2 0BL
  Phone: 0786 673 0963
• Gloucester Road, Horfield, Bristol, BS78AA
  Phone: 0797 005 7289

St. Peter’s Hospice

Website: Second Hand Furniture in Bristol - St Peter's Hospice

Shops:

• Brislington, Bristol, BS4 5BE
  Phone: 01275 391 444
• Horfield, Bristol, BS7 8PE
  Phone: 0117 923 2203

Centre for Sustainable Energy

Website: Home - Centre for Sustainable Energy
Phone: 0117 9341 400 /0800 0822 234
Email: home.energy@cse.org.uk

The Home Energy Team provides free and impartial energy-saving advice. They can advise and support you with the following:

• Topping up prepayment meters.
• Gas, electricity, and water bills.
• Switching supplier.
• Benefits advice.
• Debt advice.
• Grants and Funding.
• Housing.

Sensory support service

Email: sensory.support@bristol.gov.uk
Phone: 0117 914 1440

Housing related support for deaf, blind, and deafblind adults. They can help with:

• Living independently.
• Finding a home or staying in your own home.
• Arranging repairs and adaptions, and technology to help you live independently.
• Finances and benefits.
• Developing life skills like cooking/cleaning/shopping.
• Finding activities or social events.
• Advocacy and liaison.

Avon Fire and Rescue Home Safety Checks

Phone: 0117 926 2061
Website: Request a home fire safety visit - Avon Fire and Rescue Service

They offer a free pre-arranged visit to your home to do a fire safety assessment and give you advice on how to stay safe from fire (for example what to do in the event of a fire, planning an escape route), cooking, and electrical safety.

They fit smoke alarms and replace faulty ones free of charge. They can offer additional fire safety equipment or referral to other organisations for further support.

Those who are eligible:

• Aged 65 years or over.
• Have sight and/or hearing loss.
• Have mobility concerns.
• Have mental health concerns.
• Have memory concerns.
• Are unable to escape unaided if there is a fire.
• Are a family with children under the age of 5.

We Care Home Improvements

Website: We Care Home Improvements
Phone: 0300 323 0700
Email: info@wecr.org.uk

We Care check home safety including things that might be dangerous or cause trips. They can arrange to have these fixed and can help find funding for this.

Priority Services Register

If you are vulnerable or disabled and living at home, you may be able to join your energy supplier’s Priority Service register – contact your supplier to see if you are eligible. Being on the register ensures you get:

• Advance notice of planned power cuts.
• Priority support in an emergency.
• Access to the Identification Scheme. This is to reassure you that callers, for example meter readers, are genuine.
• Priority support when calling your network operator
• Access to the Nominee Scheme. Customers can ask their supplier to send communications (such as account statements or bills) to someone you have nominated, instead of you.
• Prepayment meter support.
• Meter reading services at appropriate intervals.
• Account and bill information in an accessible format, for example in larger print or braille.

Being well is not only about being physically healthy - we all need support and companionship, especially after a period of being unwell. In Bristol there are a number of services, groups and charities which can support you with all aspects of health and wellbeing.

Well Aware

Phone: 0808 808 5252
Website: wellaware.org.uk

Well Aware provides information on a wide range of organisations, support groups, community groups, events and activities that can help improve your health and wellbeing.

If you do not have access to the internet, give them a call and an advisor will search the database and send you the information either by email or post. This is a free service.

VitaMinds

Phone: 0333 200 1893
Website: NHS Talking Therapy | Vita Health Group

VitaMinds offers a free, confidential service on behalf of the NHS. They provide various psychological therapies for conditions such as depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Support is delivered either face-to-face, by phone, online, or in a group setting. You can refer yourself by giving them a call or by filling in the online form.

Befriending

This is where a volunteer can either visit or give you a regular call to offer support, company, and conversation. It especially helps people who are feeling isolated and lonely. There is not normally a charge for this service.

Age UK Bristol

Phone: 0117 929 7537
Website: Age UK Bristol | Our Services
Email: admin@ageukbristol.org.uk

Age UK National

Phone: 0800 434 6105
Website: Using our Telephone Friendship Service | Age UK

British Red Cross

Website: The British Red Cross | Worldwide Humanitarian Charity
Phone: 01235 552 665
Email: ilcrsouthciadmin@redcross.org.uk

Re-engage

Website: Re-engage: the charity reducing loneliness in later life
Phone: 0800 716543

Memory Services

If you have noticed a deterioration in your memory, then please contact your GP for appropriate follow-up and support. If this is affecting how you are coping at home, please contact Adult Social Care for a free Occupational Therapy assessment.

A carer is someone who provides support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. Carers also need to look after themselves and there are some organisations in Bristol which can provide advice and support for you.

Carers’ Support Centre

Website: Carers Support Bristol and South Gloucestershire
Phone: 0117 965 2200
Email: carersline@carersbsg.org.uk

This charity provides free support for carers in Bristol, offering practical help and guidance. Services include a confidential advice line, one-to-one support, help with benefit applications, carers’ groups, and activities. Carers can also access a sitting service for regular respite, training courses, and an Emergency Card to alert others if they become unwell.

Rethink Mental Illness

Website: Bristol Carers Service
Phone: 0117 903 1803 or 0808 8010 525
Email: info@rethink.org

Rethink Mental Illness is funded by Bristol City Council to offer local support and education to families and friends of people with mental health issues. They provide carers’ assessments and breaks, courses and workshops, and telephone advice and support.

Bristol Black Carers

Website: Bristol Black Carers
Phone: 0117 3790 084
Email: info@bristolblackcarers.org.uk

Support for Caribbean, African and Asian Carers in Bristol including assistance for benefits applications, house, homecare plans, and social services.

Carers UK

Website: UK | Carers UK
Phone: 0808 808 7777
Email: advice@carersuk.org

A national charity that provides expert information and advice about all aspects of caring for someone, including financial issues, looking after yourself, and housing. They can also connect you with local carer support.

Advice services offer support and information regarding benefits and finances, debt, housing, immigration. 

Age UK Bristol

Website: Age UK Bristol | Information and advice for later life
Phone: 0117 929 7537

Information and advice for people over 55 or support family members who are over 55, and live or work in Bristol.

Citizens Advice Bristol

Website: Citizens Advice Bristol - free, independent, impartial and confidential advice
Phone: 0808 278 7957

A local charity that aims to provide free, independent, impartial and confidential advice to whoever may need it.

North Bristol Advice Centre

Website: Home | North Bristol Advice Centre
Phone: 0117 951 5751

Free and independent welfare benefits and debt advice.

South Bristol Advice Centre

Website: SBAS - Free information in welfare benefits and debt.
Phone: 0117 985 1122

Free and independent welfare benefits and debt advice.