Just over one in ten patients who visits their GP is a carer. How many are on your practice list?
A carer is a person of any age, adult or child, who provides unpaid support to a partner, child, relative or friend who couldn’t manage to live independently or whose health or wellbeing would deteriorate without this help. This could be due to frailty, disability or serious health condition, mental ill health or substance misuse.
Being a carer comes at a physical and psychological cost
- Up to 40% of carers experience psychological distress or depression
- Carers have an increased rate of physical health problems e.g. providing high levels of care is associated with a 23% higher risk of stroke
- Older carers who report ‘strain’ have a 63% higher likelihood of death in a year period than non-carers or carers not reporting strain
Did you know?
- That 1.2 million carers spend over 50 hours caring for others, this equates to a full-time workforce larger than the entire NHS
- Carers are estimated to save the UK economy £87 billion a year in care costs, this is equivalent to £15,260 per year for every carer in the UK
- However, more than half of carers fall into debt as a result of caring
Useful links
Supporting Carers in General Practice
The Royal College for GPs together with the Princess Royal Trust for Carers developed an action guide for GP practices. See the following page to download this action guide:
http://www.rcgp.org.uk/professional_development/continuing_professional_devt/carers.aspx. On this page you can also find a link to an e-learning module to help GP practices to support carers.
Referrals
Signpost for Carers
Signpost for Carers Stockport is a local third sector organisation providing support for carers (e.g. respite care, benefits check, practical courses, support for young carers).
Carers can easily be referred to Signpost for Carers Stockport via the following form:
- Signpost Carers Referral Form 2011
Rethink Stockport Carers Service
Rethink Stockport Carers Service provides support for people that care for individuals with a mental health condition.
- Stockport Rethink Carers Referral Form
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