What is a Carer?
A Carer is anyone, including children and adults 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.
There are approximately 5.7 million people currently in the UK who are supporting loved ones who are older, have a disability or are seriously ill.
Many of these people do not recognise themselves as a Carer and the support that may be available to them.
Are you a Carer?
If you help people regularly, on a daily basis with activities of daily living because they are unable due to age, a disability or they are too unwell, then you may be a Carer.
Do you support a person with any of the following?
- Help with personal care, getting washed and dressed
- Support with meals and drinks (cooking, encouraging to eat and drink)
- Taking to doctor or hospital appointments
- Help to keep the house and garden clean and tidy
- Help a person to see friends, family and remain socially connected
- Offer support to take medication as prescribed
- Offer support with administration including finances and paying bills
- Help to keep someone safe and well
- Without your support, the person would not be able to cope at home
If you have answered yes to any of the above questions, then you are a Carer.
Register with us
If you are a patient with us and/or you care for someone who is a patient with us it is important to have yourself registered at your GP surgery to enable you to have access to additional support. Download the registration form here (DOCX, 14KB) or ask for one at the reception desk, once completed please hand into reception.
Your GP practice also has a Social Prescribing Team who will be able to offer more tailored support and provide further information. Call your surgery and ask for a referral.
Local Support
Find out more about local support for carers (PDF, 644KB)