This Carers Week (8-14 June) local charity Care for the Carers are encouraging people to let their GP and other services know if they are looking after someone who could not manage without their help, and asking health services and local businesses to become more ‘carer friendly’.
Jennifer Twist, Chief Executive at Care for the Carers, says, “There are people on every street who are in caring roles. One in nine of people in our communities are unpaid carers. Caring comes in many forms and can take its toll on carers’ health and wellbeing, and their financial situation. If you look after someone who couldn’t manage without your help, support is available to you. This Carers Week especially, we’re encouraging anyone who thinks they might be in a caring role to get in touch with us and to make their GP and other services, such as utility providers, aware. Because no one should be left to care alone. Call us on 01323 738390 or visit www.cftc.org.uk.”
Telling your GP you are a carer is a crucial step for both you and the person you are supporting. As a result, your GP can offer support more tailored to your specific needs as a carer. Your GP can help you manage the physical and emotional toll of caring, ensuring you receive the necessary support and care for your own health, as well as being involved in the medical care of the person you are supporting, in the way that is right for you.
Victoria Medical Centre, who support 27,000 patients across two surgeries in Eastbourne was awarded Carer Friendly status for the centre’s strong commitment to ensuring carers are recognised and supported by staff and the GPs.
VMC Carer Lead, Lisa Pannett, recently spoke about what becoming Carer Friendly has meant for patients and staff. “I know we weren’t doing enough; weweren’t spreading the word to let carers know that there is support available. So, we started from the ground up. I set about doing various tasks, looking at who is listed as a carer and sending a few text messages to say how we and others can assist them, putting up a new display board with Care for the Carers resources, so that anyone coming in could see it. These were all relatively simple things to do at the outset and Care for the Carers was there to help me whenever needed.”
“Later, I trained the surgeries’ staff in all things ‘Carer Friendly’. Even doctors who may have been a bit dubious that they were going to get anything from it were really impressed and had lots of questions. They requested cards that they could give to carers attending with a patient, so I created these as a simple way for them to take action and help carers access support from organisations such as Care for the Carers. This simple thing can make a huge difference to somebody that needs it.”
Carole Gregory who leads the Carer Friendly scheme at the charity says, “Being recognised as a ‘Carer Friendly’ setting helps carers feel acknowledged and that they will be listened to when they are out and about in their daily lives and crucially when supporting patients in their local GP surgery . We can help any GP surgery or other local organisation to be Carer Friendly for the benefit of their patients, customers and staff who are carers.”
Lisa added, “Of course, we also try to celebrate Carers Week. It’s important in this week especially to make carers a focus in the Surgeries, and to let them know we are there to support them. What might take you 10 minutes to produce, to put a poster on your display board, have leaflets or bunting or sending a text message in Carers Week, could reach so many people. You don't have to go crazy – you can be realistic about things you can do.”
If you are supporting someone who couldn’t manage without your help let your GP know and ask about support available to you (and of course you can contact Care for the Carers directly). If you are a GP surgery, retail or other customer facing business, get in touch with Care for the Carers on 01323 738390 to see how they can help you to help carers. For Carers Week resources visit www.cftc.org.uk/carers-week-2026.
