Make a self-referral

A self-referral is when a person seeks help or services on their own. You can make a self-referral to Feel Good Suffolk for support to stop smoking, be active or manage a healthy weight.

Click on make a referral below to register for support and we will contact you.

Please note that eligibility criteria does apply and you can find more about that here.

What support to expect from feel Good Suffolk

What happens when you make a self-referral?

After you make a self-referral, your case will be passed onto a Feel Good Suffolk Advisor, who will review your referral, consider the type(s) of support most suitable for you and be in touch with the next steps.

What types of support do we offer?

Feel Good Suffolk is a completely new approach to support people in Suffolk to improve their health and wellbeing. Services include support to stop smoking, manage weight and be more active. You can find a wide range of information that can support you with your goals, including information on quitting smoking, losing weight and being more physically active on this website.

Many of our support services are universally available, for example Wellbeing Walks and leisure centre activities. For those that meet Feel Good Suffolk’s eligibility criteria and need further support, a range of targeted interventions are available via a self-referral to a Feel Good Suffolk Advisor.

What do we not offer?

There are a number of support services that Feel Good Suffolk does not offer.

They include:

Prescription of weight loss and or smoking cessation medication
Administration of weight loss injections or tablets
Support for those wishing to undergo bariatric surgery
Counselling and therapeutic services
Clinical interventions or advice
NHS Health Checks
Child Weight Management

We are also unable to refer clients into clinical support.

Feel Good Suffolk provides general advice on healthy eating and lifestyle changes. This is suitable for most people looking to lose weight.

If you feel that you need a different type of support, you should discuss your options with your GP. There are other services and programmes which may be more suitable for your needs. These include:

National programmes for people with specific health conditions such as diabetes or hypertension.

The local Weight Management and Complex Obesity service (WMCOS). This service offers specialist dietary advice, medications and bariatric surgery, subject to eligibility and clinical prioritisation. More information can be found here: www.suffolkandnortheastessex.icb.nhs.uk/weightmanagement

Please note that new referrals for WMCOS are expected to open in summer 2025. Your GP will be able to submit a referral to these services if appropriate for your needs.

When to see your GP for a referral

In some circumstances we may need medical clearance from a health professional that Feel Good Suffolk is a suitable support service for you. If you have a BMI of 40 or higher, or multiple long-term health conditions, we require you to have a consultation with your GP before you submit a self-referral, or they can submit a referral to Feel Good Suffolk on your behalf.

How to make a self-referral

Firstly, please check your eligibility for support by reading the criteria below.

If you do not meet the criteria you may not be eligible to support from a Feel Good Suffolk advisor.

Click the ‘make a referral’ button link below to start your self-referral.

Eligibility criteria for Stop Smoking

You must be:

– Resident in Suffolk

– Current smoker

– Aged 12 and above

– wishing to stop smoking

Eligibility criteria for Healthy Weight

Firstly, you will need to know your Body Mass Index (BMI) – You can find out your BMI on the NHS website.

To access targeted support from Feel Good Suffolk, you must:

– Be a resident in Suffolk

– Aged 18 years and over

– Be motivated to achieve a healthy weight

– Have a BMI above 30* (see below exception)

*Individuals from minority ethnic groups or with an existing health condition are eligible for support if they have a BMI of 27.5 and above

Our main priority is your safety. If you have a BMI of 40 or above, we ask that you either:

– Ask your GP for a professional referral to Feel Good Suffolk, or

– Speak with your GP or a qualified healthcare professional, before submitting a self-referral, to make sure Feel Good Suffolk’s programmes are safe and appropriate for you. You need to include a note with your self-referral (in the box at the bottom of the form) to tell us you have done this.

Please note – if one of our Advisors have concerns about your safety, they will ask for a professional referral. This could happen if you a high BMI, have several health conditions, or if you do not tell us that you have spoken to a healthcare professional in your self-referral form.

Eligibility criteria for Be Active

You must be:

– Resident in Suffolk, aged 18 years and above

– Currently inactive , (not doing at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day)

– Motivated to be more active

To be eligible for Exercise on Referral, you should have one of the following:

– A stable long-term health condition, e.g, diabetes, cancer

– A disability

– No contraindications to exercise

Your BMI must be below 40, (You can find out your BMI on the NHS website)