Carers
Please let the practice know if you are a carer or have someone who cares for you. An unpaid carer may be family, a friend, parent or partner caring for someone with additional needs, an illness, frailty, disability or drug or alcohol problem. If you are looking after a relative, friend or neighbour who could not manage without your help, then you are a carer.
Once we have received the relevant information, the care-co-ordinator at the surgery may contact you to ensure that you have, or are aware of, the support which may be available to you as a carer.
You may also wish to contact either the Carers’ Support Service or the Carers’ Health Team.
Carers Support
Carers Support is a charity which provides free, confidential and impartial information and support to carers in West Sussex. They are also able to offer access to the Carer Wellbeing Fund and a range of equipment to promote independent living.
It is recognised that carers often have other responsibilities such as:
- Continuing to go out to work
- Young carers and adult carers go to school or college
- Doing the shopping
- Looking after the home
- Looking after the rest of the family
Carers are people of all ages from all cultures, backgrounds and walks of life. Caring groups can include:
- Parents of pre-school and school age children with additional or special needs - Parent Carers
- Carers looking after someone who has a mental health problem - Mental Health Carers
- Carers under the age of 18 - Children with Caring Responsibilities - Young Carers
- Carers who are themselves over retirement age - Older Carers
Whilst these groupings help describe particular types of needs, to enable the Carer Wellbeing Workers to offer the right advice and services, in reality, as a carer, you may feel that you do not fit into any group. Whatever your own caring situation the service will support your needs as an individual.
You can contact the service online at www.carerssupport.org.uk or by telephoning them
on 0300 028 8888.
Carers Health
This is a free service provided by Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust for informal carers over the age of 18 registered with a West Sussex GP and who may be having difficulty with maintaining their own health and wellbeing whilst coping with the demands of their caring role. The service aims to improve the health of both the carer and the person being cared for.
This service is staffed by trained health professionals who can make home visits to check a carer’s state of health and to provide personalised one to one advice and information about how to keep healthy. This could include:
- Practical advice and training to help you in your caring role, such as safe moving and handling techniques and managing medication
- Information and advice on other services to help you in your caring role and in leading a healthier lifestyle
- Advice and information to help you plan for the future and to guide you through the complex health and social care system
- Referral for health screening/NHS health check
If you have any questions or think that the service may be of use to you, please contact the health team online at SC-TR.carerwellbeing@nhs.net or by telephoning them on 01243 623521.
Open hours 9am-5pm Monday to Friday (except Bank holidays). If you call outside of the opening times, please leave a message on the answerphone.