More than one in ten patients who visits their GP is a carer
Just over one in ten patients who visits their GP is a carer. How many are on your practice list?
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 or whose health or wellbeing would deteriorate without this help. This could be due to frailty, disability or serious health condition, mental ill health or substance misuse.
Being a carer comes at a physical and psychological cost
- Up to 40% of carers experience psychological distress or depression
- Carers have an increased rate of physical health problems e.g. providing high levels of care is associated with a 23% higher risk of stroke
- Older carers who report ‘strain’ have a 63% higher likelihood of death in a year period than non-carers or carers not reporting strain
Did you know?
- That 1.2 million carers spend over 50 hours caring for others, this equates to a full-time workforce larger than the entire NHS
- Carers are estimated to save the UK economy £87 billion a year in care costs, this is equivalent to £15,260 per year for every carer in the UK
- However, more than half of carers fall into debt as a result of caring
Revised edition: Supporting Carers Action Guide
The revised edition of the “Supporting Carers” action guide for 2011, offering an overview of how practices can support carers within their practice, along with up-to-date policy and good practice was launched at the RCGP Annual Conference on 21 October, and is now available here to download:
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The revised guide includes an updated and streamlined Self Assessment Checklist for practices to audit their own practice and a guide to develop a plan for their support for carers.
Please note – orders for 10 or more copies will incur a charge for postage and packaging.
New programme of work
RCGP are developing an education training programme that aims to increase the quality of care for carers within general practice.
GP Champions for Carers required
Recruitment deadline extended to 12 Dec 2011
RCGP are looking to recruit GP Champions for Carers in the following regions of England – North East, Yorkshire, North West, East Midlands, West Midlands, London, South East, East of England and South West.
GP Champions for Carers will work in partnership with Carer Ambassadors from Carers UK and Regional Development Managers from The Princess Royal Trust for Carers to champion, advise and support carer initiatives, carers events and commissioning in their region. The role is now for at least two days per month (£393 per day) from December 2011 to May 2012.
The NEW closing date for applications is 12 Dec 2011. Download the advertisment, role description and person specification for further information.
GP Forum for Carers’ Issues
Would you like to get in touch with other professionals with an interest in carers?
Would you like to get support on difficult carer issues?
The RCGP GP Forum for Carers’ Issues is a forum for health professionals who have a special interest in carers’ issues or wish to find out more.
Launched at the RCGP Annual Conference on 21 October, and is available here now.
To apply to be a member of the forum please email gpforumcarersissues@googlegroups.com and click on subscribe. The moderator will endeavour to accept your membership within 48 hours.
Support Carers in General Practice Workshops in your area – coming soon
If over one in ten patients who visits their GP is a carer – shouldn’t GPs be able to identify carers amongst their patients?
In order to help GPs identify carers and raise awareness and knowledge of issues facing carers amongst GPs and practice staff, RCGP are rolling out more workshops throughout England in Feb/Mar 2012. These free half-day practical and interactive workshops will also count towards CPD.
These workshops are designed to help GPs:
- Identify carers amongst practice populations
- Understand the problems faced by carers
- Use the updated Self-assessment Checklist
- Develop Practice-based Action Plans
Previous GP delegate: “An outstanding course which will change my practice… I have already made some local contacts and am inspired!”
Register your interest by emailing supportingcarers@rcgp.org.uk
In-house training for GPs and their practice teams
Have you no time to attend an half-day workshop?
Would you like your whole practice to receive training about carers?
RCGP are developing free DVDs in 4 x one hour sessions allowing training to be fitted around work and practice commitments. This training will also count towards CPD.
Register for a copy by emailing your name, job title and address to supportingcarers@rcgp.org.uk
Supporting Carers e-learning programme
A free Supporting Carers in General Practice e-learning programme to help GPs and primary care teams better support carers. There are six interactive educational sessions designed for health and social care professionals, each taking around 20 minutes to complete.
The e-learning programme is also available by several different online platforms to non-medical staff working in secondary care, management staff, social care workers and other clinicians working in the community.
To access the e-learning programme click here.
The Supporting Carers in General Practice e-learning programme was developed in partnership with The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and e-Learning for Healthcare, with support from The Children’s Society.
Five ways GPs can make a difference
A message from Clare Gerada, Chairperson of the Royal College of GPs, on five simple ways GPs can make a difference for carers.
Further resources to help support carers
InnovAiT special issue: Carers – the journal for GP Associates in Training published a special issue dedicated to carers in August 2011. Articles include information on how to identify carers, how to organise your practice to support carers, and carer facts and figures. These articles are useful to all GPs.
Carers Hub – a resource for all those looking to commission and develop personalised services for carers by showcasing a variety of original and innovative practice examples.
Care Planning Improving the Lives of People with Long Term Conditions – published by the Clinical Innovation & Research Centre (Royal College of General Practitioners), this document focuses on people who have long term physical health problems and describes how GPs and the other member of the primary health care team can support them to live their lives more comfortably with their condition.
GP Commissioning guidance – coming soon in March 2012
Any questions about the Supporting Carers in General Practice programme? Email supportingcarers@rcgp.org.uk
http://www.rcgp.org.uk/professional_development/continuing_professional_devt/carers.aspx
