Can you see my child on the NHS?

If you're receiving this newsletter, there's a good chance that yes, I can!

I’m taking a break from writing this Thursday’s post. Self-care is important—as I keep telling you!

At SPARK, the hosts of the Comfort with Kevin newsletter, we have two contracts that allow us to provide support that is free-at-the-point-of-use through Primary Care. At SPARK, we provide support predominantly to children and young people, up to the point at which they turn 26. We won’t leave you high and dry but we will always make sure there’s somebody else to turn to if you age out of SPARK. We also support the parents and carers of young people with mental health difficulties, or other struggles.

In layman’s terms, that means you pay nothing and your GP surgery (or in rare circumstances, your school) picks up the tab. This applies to (some) people in the below areas:

• East Hertfordshire

• Milton Keynes

I live in Milton Keynes, how can I see you for free?

SPARK is a proud sub-contractor of Arthur Ellis Mental Health Support (AEMHS), a charity that provides affordable mental health support. I won’t promote them too much, they’re much better at that than I am so check out their website.

Arthur Ellis delivers mental health services for the following Primary Care Networks, totalling 5 out of the 7 that are in Milton Keynes:

• Watling Street Primary Care Network

• Ascent Primary Care Network

• EAST:MK Primary Care Network

• The Bridge Primary Care Network

• OneMK Primary Care Network

If you are registered with a GP surgery that is a member of any of these Primary Care Networks, here is what you have to do:

1. Make an appointment at your GP practice

2. Tell them you would like to be referred to Arthur Ellis, and ask them to mention ‘Kevin McNamara’ in the referral—that’s me, the Director of SPARK!

3. Within two weeks, you will be offered an initial appointment. This will be the first of 8 sessions that will be offered fortnightly and remotely.

In addition to the above Primary Care Networks, AEMHS also provides services for the following educational establishments:

• Oakgrove School

• Bushfield School

• Old Stratford Primary School

• Elizabeth Woodville School

• Kents Hill Park School

• MK College

Have a chat with your teacher, school SENDCo or pastoral staff member to discuss how your child can access SPARK via AEMHS making sure to mention Kevin McNamara by name in the referral.

I live in East Hertfordshire, how can I see you for free?

SPARK is the proud provider of mental health support for the Ware and Rurals Primary Care Network. The members of the Ware and Rurals are:

• Dolphin House Surgery

• Buntingford and Puckeridge Medical Practice

If you are registered with either of the above, here is what you have to do:

1. Make an appointment at your GP practice

2. Tell them you would like to be referred to SPARK. If you get a blank look, mention me by name: ‘Kevin McNamara’.

3. Within two weeks, you will be offered an initial appointment to discuss your concerns. We will make a time to talk to discuss your concerns and how SPARK can help. In addition to mental health support, we can offer:

   1. Social Prescribing services

   2. Right To Choose discussions helping you and your family access appropriate specialist services, such as ADHD and ASD assessment services, in a timely manner that centres your concerns.

If you have any questions about any of this, you know what to do:

And if you have a friend who enjoys getting mental health support for kids, you know what you should tell them to do: