Are you a carer?

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 (not in a parental role) or whose health or well-being would deteriorate without this help.  This could be due to frailty, disability, or serious health condition, mental ill health or substance misuse.

Carers tasks are many and varied.  Commonly carers might perform domestic tasks such as shopping, managing finances, cleaning, washing and ironing; maybe in addition to maintaining their own separate households.  Carers often do nursing tasks such as giving medication, changing dressings and helping with mobility.  They may provide intimate care including washing the person cared  for, dressing and attending to toileting needs.  They may need to supervise medication or help with communication. Carers caring for people with mental health problems or those caring for people with dementia may perform few physical tasks, but provide a great deal of emotional support, ensuring that the person stays safe.

Let us know that you are a carer. As a carer you are entitled to a free flu vaccination and:

• some flexibility with appointment times, for both yourself and/or the person you care for to accommodate your caring situation
• agreement to share information about the condition of the person you care for (with their consent)
• signposting to support services

Carers are at a much higher risk of becoming ill themselves and your GP can help  keep you fit and well by recognising the effects caring can have on your health, such as depression, stress, high blood pressure or back pain. Make sure you take advantage of the free Carer’s health check.

Many carers are inclined to ignore symptoms because they cannot contemplate becoming ill themselves when they have caring responsibilities. It is important that you  look after your own health and accept any treatment that you need as, ultimately, you cannot look after someone else without first looking after yourself.

Please let us know if we have  introduced a change that impacts negatively on you as a carer. GP practices are under great pressure to streamline the way we work, and we may be able to make adjustments in your case to ease any additional pressure on you.

For information on local support visit Birmingham Carer’s Hub

Click here to get further advice on care and support from NHS Direct