Who is a carer?
A carer is a person of any age (including children) who provides unpaid support to a partner, relative, friend or neighbour who couldn’t get by without their help. This could be due to old age, frailty, disability, a serious health condition, mental ill health or substance misuse. Parents of children who are disabled or who have a serious health condition are also considered to be carers.
It is estimated that 10% of patients are carers.
Improving carer identification
As a practice, we want to increase the number of people on our carers’ register so that we can look after you better. We do this by:
- Asking patients with long-term conditions to name their carers
- Running awareness-raising campaigns to get carers to tell us about their caring responsibilities
What we offer to improve healthcare for carers
- Flu vaccination – most carers are eligible for a free flu vaccination to protect themselves and the person they care for
- Regular health check appointments to help you keep fit and well
- More flexible appointments
- Carer support groups
- Referrals to carers’ services for more specialised information, advice and support
Speak to other carers online
There are many people who care for others sharing their stories and offering support online. You don’t have to join in conversations, but it might help to see what’s being said.