If you are experiencing difficulties at work and you work in a small company (50 people or less), then you can refer yourself to Working Health Services Lothian, which is a vocational rehabilitation service.

The team are based within the occupational therapy department in the Astley Ainslie Hospital in the Grange/Morningside district of Edinburgh. They can also arrange appointments at:

• St Johns Hospital and Strathbrock health centre in West Lothian, Midlothian
• Community Hospital in Midlothian
• Roodlands Hospital in East Lothian

If you would like to get in touch with the Working Health Services Lothian, then please use the details below.

Contact information
Email: voc.rehab@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Phone: 0131 537 9579

If you are not in employment and looking for support back into work with a hearing difficulty then the disability advisor at your local Job centre plus will be able to help you.

The details for Musselburgh Job Centre Plus are below.

Contact information
Phone: 0345 604 3719
Textphone: 345 608 8551
Address: North House, Eskmills Park Station Road, Musselburgh, Midlothian, EH21 7DU

You can use the 0845 code to call these 0345 numbers. Check with your phone company which code is cheaper for you.

You should contact your GP to discuss hearing concerns and they can refer you to audiology for further assessment.

Local libraries within east Lothian issue free hearing aid batteries to those with NHS hearing aids, they require you to bring in the yellow audiology record book.

RNIB Edinburgh and Lothians is the part of RNIB Scotland, which provides specific local services to people with sight loss who live in Edinburgh, West Lothian, Midlothian and East Lothian. 

Our welfare rights service provides expert advice on welfare benefits, assistance with claiming benefits and representation at appeals and tribunals. If you'd like to find out more or get in touch, please use the following information.

Contact information
Email: lothian.benefits@rnib.org.uk
Phone: 0131 557 1004

Alternatively, for information about the benefits available to those with a registered visual impairment, you can contact the Welfare Rights Team for East Lothian on 0131 653 5230.

You can also contact the Local Citizens Advice Bureau in either Musselburgh or Haddington using the details below.

Contact information

Organisation: Musselburgh Citizens Advice Bureau
Phone: 0131 653 2748 or 0131 653 2544
Fax: 0131 665 1141
Address: 41 High Street, Musselburgh, EH21 7DD

Organisation: Haddington Citizens Advice Bureau
Phone: 01620 824471
Address: 46 Court St, Haddington, EH41 3NP

CAPABILITY provides services directly to around 1000 disabled people at over 25 locations around Scotland, supporting people at every stage of their lives and at home, work and school. Through the schools, early years and childcare services they support not only disabled children at crucial times in their life but their families and carers. They have many services which focus on giving disabled people the opportunity to live independent lives whether that is in their own homes, participating in their local or wider community, or finding employment. For those who would like we can also provide residential and respite services. Alexander Anderson Day Service (AADS) offers a range of activities including those which support people to develop everyday living skills such as cooking and baking; budgeting; or shopping; to more physical activities such as keep-fit. Developing IT skills without the need to attend college: AADS has links with a number of colleges in the area who offer classes within the centre; you can book a time in the Sensory room or with the Aromatherapist or Beauty Therapist. AADS is also the only facility in the area to offer people the opportunity to participate in Soundbeam or access hydrotherapy. Use of the hydrotherapy pool can be supported either by AADS staff or by users own staff/ carers. If support is wanted to access activities outside the centre, AADS have links with a range of agencies and support people which give the opportunity to attend activities such as Pather Art Works, IndepenDANCE, M&Ds bowling, local sport venues and Music Works. Support is also available to allow people to meet friends for dinner or a chat; visit places of local/ national interest; or attend the theatre or concerts. To find out more please visit www.capability-scotland.org.uk or call 0131 337 9876 for more information.

Deaf Action provides support and advice for deaf people of all ages, from interpreting services and sign language training to information about hearing aids. They may also be able to advise you on any local clubs or support groups aimed at people who are hard of hearing or deaf.

To find out more, please use the details below.

Contact information
Website: Deaf Action
Phone: 0131 556 3128
Address: Deaf Action, Head Office, 49 Albany Street, Edinburgh EH1 3QY

Deaf Action is a deaf-led charity that has been working for an equal and better future for deaf, deafened, deaf-blind and hard of hearing people since 1835. This vision remains at the heart of everything they do today and is central to all the services they provide.

For more information, please visit their website by following the link here.

If you are finding it difficult to cook for yourself, you may be eligible for our meals at home service. The meals are provided to the Council by Apetito, a company who supply frozen meals locally in East Lothian. For more information on what is available, please follow the link here. If you are interested in using the meals at home service, please contact your local council on 01875 824309 to request an assessment by one of our social work staff. The service is available to vulnerable people of all age groups in the county, such as elderly people or those with physical or learning disabilities. For further information, please click here. Unfortunately there is no longer a hot meal delivery service available. It is also worth checking if your local shops, cafes or restaurants are able to provide a delivery service.

The Disabled Person's Railcard gives you discount of a third off the cost of your train ticket. For information about who is eligible and how to apply, please use the details below.

Contact information
Website: Disabled Person's Railcard
Email: disability@atoc.org
Phone: 0345 605 0525 (7am to 10pm Monday to Sunday)
Minicom/ text: 0345 601 0132

The National Entitlement Card (a free bus pass available if you are over 60 years of age or if you have a disability) also entitles you to reduced train travel rates (if eligible).

You must be a East Lothian resident and travelling from an East Lothian train station.

For further information on the eligibility criteria and for an application form, please call the Transport Concession Team using the following information.

Contact information
Phone: 01620 827974
Address: John Muir House, Haddington, East Lothian

East Lothian Community Alarm Telecare Service (ELCATS) is a landline, telephone-based system which you can use to summon help, call assistance, or give you reassurance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The main role of the Community Alarm Telecare Service is to obtain help for an older or disabled person when an emergency arises.

The user has a pendant button that is worn around the neck or on the wrist, which is connected to an alarm receiving centre, where there is always a call operator on duty to respond immediately. The service relies on a network of local contacts and, where possible, they require you to provide them with the names of at least two local key-holders, who can be called upon if required to check on you.

To help you and your key-holder further, the service is supported 24/7 by response staff from East Lothian Emergency Care Service (ECS). The call operator can call them out to assist you and/or your key-holder if required.

The pendant has a range of about 50 meters and will cover the area of the average house and garden.

There is a small charge for this service.

East Lothian Community Alarm Telecare Service (ELCATS) is a landline, telephone-based system which you can use to summon help, call assistance, or give you reassurance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The main role of the Community Alarm Telecare Service is to obtain help for an older or disabled person when an emergency arises.

The user has a pendant button that is worn around the neck or on the wrist, which is connected to an alarm receiving centre, where there is always a call operator on duty to respond immediately. The service relies on a network of local contacts and, where possible, they require you to provide them with the names of at least two local key-holders, who can be called upon if required to check on you.

To help you and your key-holder further, the service is supported 24/7 by response staff from East Lothian Emergency Care Service (ECS). The call operator can call them out to assist you and/or your key-holder if required.

The pendant has a range of about 50 meters and will cover the area of the average house and garden.

There is a small charge for this service.