Chiropodists provide foot care – treatment for things such as bunions, corns and ingrowing toenails. You may be entitled to chiropody treatment on the NHS; ask your doctor for details. More information is given in our free advice leaflet, Fitter Feet.

Community psychiatric nurses provide nursing care at home for people with mental health problems and can provide support for their families.

Continence advisers can offer specialist advice and help on incontinence. There are a range of aids and equipment which can make it far easier to cope with incontinence, and, with the help of a continence advisor, the problem can often be cured altogether. More information is given in our free advice leaflet, Bladder and Bowel Weakness.

Dieticians offer general advice on healthy eating. They can also give specialist advice to people who have illnesses that are affected by diet, such as irritable bowel syndrome or heart disease. For more information on eating a balanced diet, see our free advice leaflet, Healthy Eating.

District nurses can provide nursing care at home: for example, attending to dressings, caring for pressure sores, giving injections, ear syringing and arranging help with bathing (if there is a medical reason for needing help with bathing).

Health visitors can provide general advice on health: for example, coping with special diets or preventing constipation.

NHS Walk-in Centres have opened in some towns and cities in England. These are for people who have minor injuries and illnesses and they can also offer health information and advice. The Walk-in Centres are run by NHS nurses. They are open from early morning to late evening, seven days a week. You don’t need to make an appointment to visit a Walk-in Centre. To find out if there is one in your area call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

Occupational therapists can help older or disabled people cope with everyday activities such as cooking and dressing which may have become difficult. They can assess your need for equipment such as a seat in your bath, special taps which are easier to turn on, cutlery with large handles for arthritic hands and so on. Occupational therapists are also involved in advising on house adaptations to make life easier for older and disabled people. You can usually contact an occupational therapist through your local council social services department (social work department in Scotland, or your local health and social services trust if you live in Northern Ireland) or your doctor.

Optometrists (often called opticians) carry out eye tests to check on the health of your eyes. They also prescribe lenses for glasses or contact lenses. If you are over 60 you can have a free eye test. Some people are also entitled to an NHS voucher to help pay towards the cost of glasses and contact lenses. You should be able to get a home visit from an optician if you are unable to leave the house. For further information on optometrists see our free advice leaflet, Better Sight.

Palliative care nurses, such as Macmillan or Marie Curie nurses who specialise in caring for those who have cancer, often provide palliative care in the patient’s own home.

Pharmacists (also known as chemists) can offer you advice on your medication and how it works. They can also offer advice on common complaints such as coughs, colds, aches and pains and other health issues, such as healthy eating. A pharmacist can help you decide if you need to see a doctor. You can just drop into your local pharmacy; you don’t need to make an appointment.

Physiotherapists can give advice on equipment for daily living and exercises to help stiff joints and muscles. They can also help with conditions such as osteoporosis or asthma.

Practice nurses are employed by doctors’ practices and are responsible for nursing care, health promotion and education. You will probably see your practice nurse for injections, including your flu and pneumonia jabs. Practice nurses also run specialist clinics within their doctor’s practice: for example, diabetes or asthma clinics. The services that practice nurses provide vary from practice to practice.

Speech and language therapists can help if you have difficulties eating and swallowing: for example, as a result of a stroke, as well as helping with communication difficulties.

There are also many other community care services and social services to enable people to continue to live independently. For more information on how to get these services see our free advice leaflet, Help in Your Home.