Wellbeing Service

Welcome to NHS Borders Wellbeing Service RefHelp homepage 

The ‘Wellbeing Service’ provides support to people wishing to improve their health through provision of evidence-based interventions and programmes using health behaviour change approaches and motivational interviewing techniques.  

This includes support to make positive lifestyle changes with respect to smoking cessation, physical activity, weight management, healthy eating and support to enhance emotional wellbeing (low mood, stress and anxiety). 

Who to refer, who not to refer, how to refer

Key referral criteria for the service:   

• Lifestyle  
• Weight – 18 years +   
• physical activity – 16 years + 
• Smoking Cessation – 12 years +  
• Emotional Wellbeing for Tier 1 support – 18 years + 

All patients should be motivated and ready to engage. Interventions require a level of self-help. 

Service exclusion criteria: 

Emotional Wellbeing Exclusions (18+)  

• Tier 2 support- refer to Renew 
• Emotional Wellbeing – if under 18 refer to Quarriers (if in education) or CAMHs depending on severity  
• Patients seeking treatment with psychosis, a major psychiatric illness, severe depression (including post natal depression)  
• Current CMHT or Psychology contact or pending referral 
• Severe distress/impaired functioning 
• Active Suicidal Plans/significant self-harming 
• Patients seeking treatment with a diagnosed personality disorder  
• Unrealistic goals, e.g. counselling/therapy as opposed to guidance in self-help.   
• Unwilling to consider idea of self-help 

Weight Management/Weight Loss Exclusions (18+)  

• Referrals for people under 18 are not accepted (refer to Child.HealthyWeightService@borders.scot.nhs.uk) 
• Underweight individuals (BMI <18.5) are not suitable for weight loss/weight management  
• Pregnant women seeking advice for weight loss (refer to Borders Weight Management Team) 
• People with the following are not suitable: 
• Uncontrolled hypothyroidism  
• Unstable psychosis or severe and unstable personality disorder  
• Dementia (unless attending with carer) 
• Diagnosis of current eating disorder –referral to CMHT.  Clients need to be assessed by the CMHT first  
• Moderate to severe learning disability (unless attending with carer) – refer to LD for advice / support   
• Complex Gastrointestinal (GI) issues including malabsorption –needed input from specialist or dietetics   

Cancer patients undergoing treatment – refer to oncology nurse or doctor if specialist dietary advice is required 

To access the service, patients may either refer themselves, or be referred by a health professional using SCI gateway or a referral form which can be found on wellbeing service website (please see local service details section).   

Useful resources can be found on Wellbeing Service website: 

www.nhsborders.scot.nhs.uk/wellbeing  

Resilience For Wellbeing Service - Quarriers 

Local service details including contact details:

> Email: wellbeing@borders.scot.nhs.uk 

> Phone: 01896 824502 

> Address: Wellbeing Service, Room 16, Newstead, TD6 9DA 

> Website for NHS Borders Wellbeing Service