For health services
Carers are a key partner, alongside the health service, in managing the needs of the people they look after. That’s not all: carers also form a hugely significant group of patients who need particular support to look after their own health.
Health services have a key role to play in tackling carers’ health inequalities. People who are caring are more likely to be in poor health than those without unpaid caring responsibilities for older, disabled or ill relatives and friends.
In supporting and promoting the population’s health, health services should recognise the important role that carers play, help them to be a part of decision making, connect them to advice about caring, and ensure that carers look after their own health.
From simple one-off actions to ongoing commitments, there are all kinds of ways for health services to recognise a carer’s role. The more visible carers are to the wider health and care system, the more their contribution and need for support will be recognised.
Below are ideas for GP practices, hospitals and pharmacies.
However your service is supporting carers, show your commitment to tackling inequalities by recognising and supporting carers in the community.
GP practices
GPs are in touch with carers every day, either as patients, or on behalf of those they care for. There are lots ofways that GP surgeries can create an environment where carers are identified and supported to look after their own health and wellbeing while caring for their loved one:
- Continue to encourage unpaid carers to identify themselves by including information about carers on your GP practice website, as well as in leaflets and newsletters.
- Include notes on patient records, both whether the patient has a carer (and if so, who that carer is), but also if the patient is a carer.
- Develop a practice policy for carers informed by carers and any patient participation group. Appoint a carer lead(s) to champion it.
- Send out information during Carers Week, helping to connect families with available support services. Ensure that you know your local carers' organisation and what they offer, so that you can direct patients and carers to the support available in your area. Carers UK have a directory of carers services
- Proactively ask patients who report fatigue, stress, anxiety, or depression if they are an unpaid carer (or looking after someone) and connect them to support if they are.
NHS Trusts
Many patients who come into hospital will be cared for by a relative, or they will have caring responsibilities themselves. There are many simple actions that hospitals can take to support carers:
- Introduce Carer Passports to better identify carers of patients. Visit the Carers Passports website
- Introduce carer friendly policies, such as allowing carers to spend time with their family member or friend outside of visiting hours as required, or giving them free car parking.
- Offer flexible appointments for those people with caring responsibilities.
- Ensure that carers are provided with care plans and information for patients, particularly upon hospital discharge.
- Ensure staff inform carers of decisions and collaborate with carers to develop care plans that consider the needs both of patients and carers.
- Involve carers in decisions about the care of the person(s) they look after, including discharge planning if the patient agrees. Carers have expertise and should be respected and listened to.
- Ensure that there is clear and early information about carers’ rights at hospital discharge.
- Connect with key local organisations to help signpost families to support.
- Consider your own staff needs as an employer. One in three NHS staff is an unpaid carer for a relative or friend with a disability, frail or is chronically ill
Pharmacies
Pharmacies and community health services often have more direct contact with carers than other services. This means they can connect carers to services to make their caring role easier, or help people get support with their own health and wellbeing. There are many simple actions that pharmacies can take to support carers:
- Help anyone who might be caring to identify themselves as a carer and make sure they know about services you offer for carers, such as free flu jabs and the NHS Health Check.
- Signpost carers to local support services, such as a local carers' organisation.
- Support identified carers to pick up prescriptions and manage medication for those they care for.
- Offer a medication review, with permission from the patient, and help carers with advice on medication (for example, about side effects or administering medication) or health and wellbeing.
- Ensure that the right support and training is available to help carers to care well.
- Send out information during Carers Week, helping to connect families with available support services.
Reference:
* Carers UK, 2023, State of Caring 2023
Caring About Equality
Carers are having to neglect their own needs: