September 11th 2008

 

Peterborough Carers Centre recently sent to all GP surgeries in Peterborough a questionnaire on how they support the carers in their practice.

Out of approximately 32 asked, only 4 surgeries responded.

 

GPs are usually the first port of call for carers, so why are they ignoring the support and help that the Carers Centre can offer them and the carers in their practice?

Why are Primary Care Providers so important? Patients who are carers notice that caring has an impact on their own health . Many suffer stress, depression and physical strain due to the caring role. Patients who are carers think that GPs are the very people who can play a key role in identifying carers, offering information or referring on to local Carers Centres.

 

Remember, one in ten of the population are patients who are carers, and over a million provide over 50 hours of care each week.

National research shows that carers need certain things from their GPs:

 

An awareness of needs of patients who are carers
Identify patients who are carers
Refer patients who are carers to Carers Centres and other service providers
Practices to offer carer friendly support to patients who are carers

 

The Carers Centre can support GPs to do this by having:

 

:: Carer notice boards
:: Carer surgeries and coffee mornings
:: Having referral forms
:: Offering information
:: Carrying out Carers Assessments

 

This is just a few of the services we can offer, so why are GPs and the surgeries still refusing to work with the Peterborough Carers Centre, and as far as we are concerned, they are not offering a worthwhile service to the patient carers on their lists.

 

Carers save Health and Social Care over 87 billion pounds (1) a year, isn't it about time that they had recognitionand received some support back?

 

(1) http://www.carers.org/news/carers-save-the-uk-economy-87-biilion-per-year,2553,NW.html