Do you look after someone?
A carer is anyone, including a child or young person, who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid and may be emotional or include shopping, cooking, dealing with medication, or attending medical appointments with the person they care for. Eastwood Primary Care Centre recognises the value of all unpaid carers.
Many people do not see themselves as carers but as simply fulfilling family duties. For example, young people caring for a parent, parents of disabled children or older couples who see caring for each other as a natural part of their lives, and people from cultures who do not recognise the concept of “a carer”. (Department of Health 2008).
It is important you let the practice know if you look after someone. We can add you to our Carer Register for you to gain access to information and support, including our Carer Champions at the practice. Carer Champions help with the identification of carers, act as a voice for carers and are a key point of contact for carer information.
Our Carer Champions are Samantha Papworth and Diane Rowley and both are keen to provide a quality service and help carers as much as possible. If they are not available at the time of your query, please leave a message and they will contact you at the earliest possible convenience.
Help and Support for Carers
- Proxy Access to GP Online Services enables a second person to have access to their online GP record. This is often a family member, medical next of kin, a close friend or a carer whom they trust to act on their behalf. To access this service you must have online access set up. Please complete the form and return in person to the surgery, bringing evidence of ID.
- Third Party Access Sharing of Information Consent Form. The completion of this form authorises the surgery to discuss information regarding your health with a named third party.
- Carers Hub Service provide support for adult carers across the city and county of Nottinghamshire and Tuvida provide support for young carers aged 5 to 17 years.
- Derbyshire Carers Association provide support for carers across Derbyshire.
- Do you look after someone? is a comprehensive carers booklet produced by Nottinghamshire County Council.
- Support for Carers information can be found on the Nottinghamshire County Council website, including information on Emergency Cards for Carers and Carers Assessments.
- The Macmillan Information and Support Service based at Nottingham City Hospital and the Queen’s Medical Centre provide a free and confidential drop-in service for anyone affected by cancer, whether you are living with cancer, or are a relative, friend or carer of someone who is.
- Eastwood Memory Cafe is a local charity helping people affected by dementia and their carers to live well.
- The Jointly App provides a central place to store and share important information about the person you are caring for. Carers in Nottinghamshire currently have free access to this app and this step by step guide to registering and using the app.
- Information Sessions for carers are available with the Nottinghamshire Carers Hub. Are you worried about how the cost-of-living crisis is impacting on you? Would you like more information and advice on ways to help with the cost of living / fuel poverty? If the answer is YES please register for one of the planned sessions.