Medical care - care leavers

Your health history is important to you. When you have your final health assessment as you become a care leaver, the health team will put all your health history into a health passport. It will also contain information about services that can offer you support for your health.

We will have a follow-up conversation about your health and emotional wellbeing one year after your final assessment to:

• offer support to find local NHS services
• help you access adult mental health services, attend hospital and community clinic appointments, including sexual health services
• help you maintain a healthy lifestyle through advice and support on various topics  

If you have not received a health passport, ask your personal advisor to support you to get one.

If you are not already registered at a doctors surgery, your personal advisor can help you register with one.

Your personal advisor can go with you to appointments if you are unsure or need support.

You may also want to download the NHS app to help with managing appointments and your NHS account.

You are eligible for free prescriptions as a care leaver up until your 25th birthday. To access this, you must not already be eligible for free prescriptions for another reason.

You will need a prescription prepayment certificate to show your eligibility. To apply for the certificate you will need an email address and to be registered with a GP surgery. Your personal advisor can help you apply for this certificate.

Almost all NHS treatments are free. Where there may be a charge, you may be able to get help with these costs.

You may be eligible for financial support towards dental checks and treatment if you are:

• aged 16 to 18 years old in full time education
• pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
• having treatment as an in-patient or out-patient at an NHS hospital
• receiving Income Support, Income Based Employment and Support, or Job Seekers Allowance
• on a low income and have a Health Credit Certificate (known as HC2 or HC3 certificate)

If you are not eligible for financial support, we can get you help from health colleagues who will fund dental treatment for you. Please speak to your personal advisor for more information.

You may be eligible for free eye tests and vouchers towards glasses or contact lenses if you are:

• aged 16 to 18 and in full time education
• receiving Income Support, Income Based Employment and Support, or Job Seekers Allowance
• on a low income and have a Health Credit Certificate (known as HC2 or HC3 certificate)

If you are on a low income you can apply for a Health Credit Certificate known as HC2 or HC3. This will give you reduced cost or free dental and eye checks and treatment as well as prescription charges. This is dependent on your income and needs at the time you apply for support. A certificate can last from six months to five years depending on your circumstances.

To find out more, ask your GP, dentist or optician, or ask your social worker to help you apply.