Carers

This Practice is committed to providing appropriate support for Carers. We hold a Silver Carers Award, and our Carers Lead is Kim Lavin (Senior Receptionist). We recognise that Carers contribute significantly by looking after relatives, neighbours or friends.

Do you look after someone?  Are you a Carer?

“A Carer is someone who provides unpaid help and support to a relative, friend or neighbour who could not manage on their own due to illness, frailty, disability, physical impairment, mental ill health or substance misuse problem.  A Young Carer is under 18.”

Does this sound like you?  If so, you are an Unpaid Carer.  We are interested in identifying Carers, especially those people who may be caring without help or support.  We know that Carers are often “hidden” looking after a family member or helping a friend or neighbour with day to day tasks and many not see themselves as a Carer.

We feel that caring for someone is an important and valuable role in the community, which is often a 24-hour job that can be very demanding and isolating for the Carer.  We further believe that Carers should receive appropriate support by way of access to accurate information on a range of topics such as entitlement to benefits and respite care and not least, a listening ear when things get too much.

Young Carers, under the age of 18, may be particularly vulnerable due to their inexperience and lack of life-skills.  Young Adult Carers, between the ages of 18-25, can be the most hidden group of Carers in our society.  Therefore we are committed to providing appropriate support and consideration to patients who are Carers, whatever their age.

What we can do to help

If you are a Carer, tell us.

Register as a Carer by downloading the form here and handing into Reception.

The Practice invites patients with a caring role to be registered as a Carer. This enables the GPs, nurses and other staff to provide you with help and support that you may need either now or in the future.  A Carers Registration Form is available at the Surgery, or by speaking to any staff member.  For more advice on services and support for Carers locally, please phone our usual Surgery number and ask to speak to our Carer’s Lead, Kim Lavin.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Why should you register as a Carer with your GP Surgery?

Registering as a Carer may help you health care team to:

  • Understand your caring responsibilities
  • Signpost you to information, help and support, either now or in the future
  • Share information about the person you care for (with appropriate written consent)
  • May aim to offer a flexible approach to appointments and to obtaining prescriptions if leaving the dependent person is difficult
  • Offer you an annual flu jab (free)
  • Refer you to other services and organisations that might be able to help you

We can also arrange a referral to the Carers information service who will send you the Carers Information Pack, the quarterly newsletter ‘Carers Gazette’, invitations to carers’ events and can provide you with updated, regular information.  You can also request a referral to Social Services at Pembrokeshire County Council for a Carers Needs Assessment if you choose.

We know that Carers often have limited time to look after their own health needs and therefore we encourage them to make an appointment with the Practice Nurse for a health check if appropriate.

What is a Carer’s Needs Assessment?

As a Carer, you are entitled to have a Carers Needs Assessment by Social Services.  It is a chance to talk about your needs as a Carer, about the things that could make caring easier for you and the possible ways help could be given.  It also looks at the needs of the person you care for.  This could be done separately, or together, depending on the situation.  There is no charge for an assessment.  Every Carer is entitled to an assessment, where your need to go to work, for leisure or training are to be taken into account; however it is not an assessment of your ability to provide care.  When you register with the Surgery as a Carer, we will offer you the chance of a referral for a Carer’s Needs Assessment.

How to find out more information

The practice has a dedicated Carers notice board by the Reception desk with information of support and services locally and news of local events.

Some useful websites:

Wales/UK

Date published: 30th October, 2020
Date last updated: 26th October, 2021