Carers

You care? We care

In the UK around one in 8 adults (around 6.5 million people) are carers, supporting a loved one who is older, disabled or seriously ill.

We know that being a carer can be hugely stressful, particularly if you don’t recognise yourself as one, and so are not getting all, or any, of the help and support you need.

If you are a carer then your contribution is hugely valuable. Many people care for family, friends or neighbours without realising that there is a range of help and support available. We have teams of people, such as social prescribers and wellbeing coaches, who may be able to make a difference. But we can’t if we don’t know about your situation.

If you recognise yourself as a carer then please let us know so that we can update our records and help you to get the support and advice that you deserve. This may include information on benefit entitlement, access to respite care or simply being at the end of a telephone if you need to talk.

Please make sure we have all your details on file by completing a Carer’s Identification and Referral form which is available from our reception.

 

Carers Support

If you are a carer, you might find it difficult to access our services without extra support.

If you identify yourself as a carer, our staff will try to offer you:

  • Home visits and/or telephone appointments if caring responsibilities mean you cannot leave the person you care for at home or bring them with you to the surgery.
  • Flexibility or priority on appointment times where possible.
  • Support for the person you care for in the waiting room or a private area if you need to bring them to the surgery but would like an appointment in private.
  • Information about local carers support services, which may be able to arrange transport and/or sitting services to help you leave home to attend surgery.
  • Telephone ordering for prescriptions where possible.
  • An annual health check and a flu jab.
  • Information about your right to a Carers’ Assessment of your own needs as a carer.
  • Advice on safer lifting and other aspects of providing care such as medication.
  • Discussing with you what you would like us to do in the event of you or the person you care for having a medical or other emergency.

In some cases caring roles are full time and very demanding. We would like to support you in your caring role where we can. We will avoid making assumptions about the amount of care you wish to take on.

Caring should not be at the expense of your own health and wellbeing. Please tell us how your caring role is affecting you and if you have any support needs

We will try to help you by:

  • Respecting your privacy and confidentiality and conducting conversations of a personal nature in private.
  • Discussing the benefits of appropriate information sharing with patients who need or may in future need care from a relative or friend.
  • Providing you with information about the condition and needs of the person you care for, such as the effects of medication, where that person gives consent.
  • Always listening to and respecting the information you give us about your caring role and the needs of the person you care for.
  • Providing you with general information about health conditions when you ask for it when we do not have consent from the person you care for to share their personal information.

Please contact us if you have any queries about our support for carers - we will be happy to help and treat the conversation in strictest confidence.

 

Useful resources

  • Carers UK: As the UK's only national membership charity for carers, Carers UK is both a supportive community and a movement for change. 
  • Carers TrustCarers Trust is a major charity for, with and about carers. They work to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring, unpaid, for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems. 
  • Carers First - Lincolnshire: It’s estimated there are 79,000 people in Lincolnshire providing care for a relative or friend. We believe every one of those people deserves the support necessary to thrive in their role. 
  • Evergreen Care Trust: The Evergreen Care Trust was founded in 2005 by Louise Marsh a former nurse, with a group of volunteers from across the local churches in Stamford.
  • Lincolnshire Carers Service
  • Care Services: Listings of care providers and care homes in Lincolnshire