Information for Carers

Local Helplines and Advice

For contact details of numerous organisations available in the local area, please view our Local Helplines and Advice Leaflet.

CarersUK have produced a booklet with useful information on how to get help and support, as well as information about finances and work.  You can read the booklet, Looking after someone, information and support for carers in England

Carers’ Survey 2020 Results

The surgery carried out a Carer’s Survey between November and Dec 2020 to all patients we have registered as carers.  This was approximately 300 patients.  The surveys were sent by a combination of letters or text message questionnaires.

Sadly, we did not have a very high return rate which makes it difficult to draw accurate conclusions.  The full results of this piece of work can be found on our practice website.  We would like to thank those who took the time to complete it.  Your comments and answers have been really valuable in highlighting key areas of improvement.

In summary, those patients who have had Carers health checks have found these useful. Due to difficulties this year with Covid pandemic pressures we had put a hold on inviting carers in for an annual check.  The survey reflects this.  This is something we hope in 2021 we are able to re-start.

Other suggestions that will be actioned will be ensuring all reception staff have additional training on carers being able to have flu vaccinations.  We will also look into providing a paper booklet on resources and services offered for carers in the practice, it has highlighted that a significant number of our patients did not have computers or internet to view advice for Carer’s available here.  The difficulty with this is keeping this information up to date regularly and we will need to think how this is done effectively and in keeping with our ethos of trying to reduce our carbon footprint.

The surgery has signed up to the ‘Primary Care Quality Markers’ scheme for Carer’s.  This is a voluntary initiative but one the practice feels is important.  As part of this we are meeting with locality leaders in the next month to take this work further and continue to develop our services for Carers.

Many thanks for your ongoing support.

Are You a Carer?

Are you a carer or cared for? Do you care for someone who could not manage without you or are you someone that is cared for?

It is important that carers stay as fit and healthy as possible. We want to help carers however we can only do this if you let us know you are a carer and register yourself as a carer using the Carer Registration Form (see below).

Under NHS regulations all GPs are required to compile a register of carers. This identifies carers and their needs so that support can be offered when needed if you care for a relative, friend or neighbour who is dependent on that help. The person being cared for may be handicapped, have a debilitating physical or mental illness or be in frail health and can be any age.

Register with us as a Carer

We may be able to help you and ensure that your own health needs are met in the most appropriate way. To do this please register with us as a carer:

  • Pick up the form at reception and complete it there.

Carer’s Emergency Card

North Yorkshire County Council are running a scheme for carers if they have an accident and cannot identify themselves. The carer’s emergency card identifies you as a carer if you have an accident or cannot identify yourself. It is the size of a credit card.

The scheme offers 24-hour emergency cover, so if anything happens to you while you are out or you are suddenly taken ill at home, we will get in touch with your identified emergency contact(s) or take appropriate action. Anyone over 18 who cares for someone in North Yorkshire can apply for a card.

Carer’s Emergency Card Applications can be submitted here.

Useful Contacts

The Health Organisations Carers section on this website has lots of useful links to help you.