Support from Health Professionals

To get the support you need in your Caring role, a great place to start is by informing your GP that you care for somebody. Once you inform your GP that you are a Carer, they can record this on your medical records. Many GP surgeries have a form on their website to help you register as a Carer, however not all do. Carers UK have developed some useful templates to help you register as a Carer with you GP which you can find here.

If your GP knows that you are a Carer, they should be able to offer you more support, information and advice.

Once you inform your GP practice that you are a Carer, please feel free to ask them what support/services are available to you. This may include:

• Understanding some of your health needs and the potential impact your caring role has on your health
• Find out if your GP practice facilitate a Carer Support Group within the practice.
• Arrange repeat prescriptions to be delivered to your local pharmacy or home address to save you from picking them up.
• Being recognised as a ‘partner in care’ and having your expertise valued. Consent may be required for health professionals to share information with you about the person you care for.
• Arrange double appointments for both you and the person you care for at the same time to avoid visiting the surgery twice.
• Provide information on medical conditions/treatments for the person you care for to help you feel more confident in your caring role.
• Inform you of services provided by the NHS such as continence services and patient transport to hospital appointments/ Carer coordinator service.
• Arrange home visits to you or the person you care for if your caring responsibilities make it difficult to attend appointments at the surgery.
• Provide supporting letters and information to enable you and the person you care for to access benefits such as Attendance Allowance or a blue badge scheme.

The seasonal flu vaccine is free for Carers or anybody receiving Carers Allowance and is the best way to protect yourself and the person you care for from the flu. The thought of becoming unwell can be a huge burden if you have caring responsibilities, therefore receiving your flu jab can put your mind at ease. Talk to your GP to find out more or visit the NHS website.

Accessing healthcare services digitally can prove very helpful and convenient to many Carers. For example, being able to book GP appointments online rather than waiting on the phone or downloading the NHS app to order repeat prescriptions and so on are a great way of maximising your time.

However, you may mistrust technology or you may not know how to access digital health services. If you have concerns about going online to access health services, you’re not alone. This guide provides information about common worries about using digital health services, and suggests questions you can ask to find out more.  Some of our Carers in Birmingham worked with Good Things Foundation to produce this leaflet so we hope that you find it useful.

Speak one-to-one with an Information and Advice Officer to find out how to register as an unpaid family Carer and what support is available to you.

The drop-ins take place every second Wednesday at:
Midlands Metropolitan University Hospital (5^th Floor outside the Patient Experience Office) on 13 May, 8 July, 9 September, 11 November.

Sandwell Hospital (Ground Floor Outpatients Area)
on 10 June, 12 August, 14 October, 9 December

If the person that you provide care for is in hospital, you can take this as the chance for some time for yourself or you may prefer to continue being involved in their care. Let a nurse know that you are the person’s Carer and that you would like an Essential Companion Access Card.

An Essential Companion Access card gives you:
• Ability to have freedom of visiting
• Participation in personal care of you wish
• Assisting with mealtimes
• Overnight stay at the bedside if appropriate
• Free carparking (for up to one month)
• Partnership in care and involvement in decision making (if consent is given and or in best interests)

Click here for more information about the Essential Companion Access Card

The Sapphire Service is a new hospital and community initiative operating across older people’s wards at Sandwell and City Hospitals Trust Charity. Jointly delivered by Agewell, a local social enterprise for older people and the West Bromwich African Caribbean Resource Centre, a local charity for African Caribbean and Dual Heritage individuals and families.

The Sapphire Service is a new hospital and community initiative operating across older people’s wards at Sandwell and City Hospitals Trust Charity. Jointly delivered by Agewell, a local social enterprise for older people and the West Bromwich African Caribbean Resource Centre, a local charity for African Caribbean and Dual Heritage individuals and families.

In partnership with the Hospital Trust staff, Sapphire aims to:

• Improve the hospital experience for older adults and their Carers
• Befriend patients and support with eating and hydration if required
• Identify any barriers to getting patients back home as soon as possible
• Support and advocate for patients in the discharge planning process to reduce re-admissions
• Provide support in those early days back at home
• Signpost and help older adults and their Carers to access community services in their local area which can improve their quality of life.

Look out for friendly staff and volunteers on the wards or contact by phone 0121 796 9333, or email info@agewell.org.uk

St Albans Community Association understands that getting home after a hospital stay isn’t just about the destination but the journey. The Community Offer Plus service offers a transport service ensures smooth transitions, helping individuals get from hospital or community beds back to their residence. They will collect and return small equipment that fits in a standard car, and even provide transport to appointments or community activities as outlined in a support plan.

Home-based Intermediate Care
St Albans Community Offer Plus provides up to four weeks of dedicated care, working hand-in-hand with health and social care community services. This will support your rehabilitation, enable you to stay safe at home, and reduce the risk of hospital or care home re-admission.

For more information about hospital discharge and home-based care contact the team on: 0121 612 2934 or bcicb.communityoffer@nhs.net

There is specific help for those caring for a child or adult with learning disabilities or in need of mental health support.  All Carers caring for a BCHFT patient will be offered a Carer’s Assessment, a care plan, psycho/educational sessions, advocacy and peer support in the community. You can find out about referring to this service and how to contact the team here.