Recognising Carers

What carers want most from their GP practice:

Recognise… that I am a carer and possibly working very hard to keep someone “afloat” and may be tired, stressed and not looking after my own health properly.

Record… that I am a carer on my medical records and on your carers’ register so that everyone at the practice knows I am a carer too.

Refer… me on to other services that can help me; and even encourage me to see what’s available as I may be so used to thinking about someone else’s needs that I’ve forgotten I have needs of my own.

        QUICK REMINDER
        The main 'carer' System One read codes are:

        Ub1JU     is a carer
        918F        has a carer

        The main 'carer' EMIS/Vision codes are:

        918A      is a carer
        918G      has a carer

Identifying 'patients who are carers

As ‘patients who are carers’ have so much contact with their local practices, primary care professionals and GPs are thought of as the very people who should be playing a key role in identifying carers, offering them basic information and advice, referring them for more specialist support and providing locally sensitive services.

Finding and recognising carers

Have a named member of staff responsible for maintaining the practice’s procedure for identification of carers: A ‘carer’s link’
Carer Support Network Worker: named workers are now aligned to the GP Cluster groups. They can organise drop ins and 1:1 carer support sessions
Involve the whole team: organise a carer awareness session for all staff

Key opportunities for identifying carers

New Patient questionnaires: ask the question ‘Do you look after someone?’ and ‘Does someone help to look after you?’
Utilise normal practice appointment consultations: every consultation is an opportunity to identify carers
Practice leaflet, website and newsletters: all opportunities to inform your patients that your practice supports carers
Use of health events, campaigns and clinics, for example, flu clinic
Utilise patients’ personal health checks
Ordering or collecting of repeat prescriptions: use the ‘Carer Registration and Referral form’
Global messages on prescriptions twice a year
Carers Corner: request a freestanding pull up banner for the patient waiting area
At the point of hospital admission or discharge
Electronic and paper notice boards and leaflets
Examine existing database: the example template letter and Carers’ Registration form could be used alongside existing patient mail-outs

For further information and to order display materials, please contact Cheryl Elliott, Carer Service Development Officer, NHS Derby City.
Tel: 01332 224000 ext 6373 / Mobile: 07900 820744
Email: cheryl.elliott@derbycitypct.nhs.uk

Find out how to read code and refer carers