Hastings GP practices offering additional support for carers

Carers provide vital support to a family member, friend or neighbour who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction could not cope without their help.

The charity is working closely with High Glades Medical Centre and Hastings and Rother Healthcare - which is also known as three individual surgeries, Warrior Square Surgery, Hastings Old Town Surgery and Churchwood Surgery - to proactively identify and register carers quickly so that they can be given the right healthcare and support when they need it.

Carers can receive free specialist information, advice and support, help to access local services and respite care, and counselling. The project is also making available a range of activities and carers’ groups so carers can connect with one another and take a break from their caring responsibilities. Activities are free and include online cookery sessions, wellbeing activities and online bingo.

Dr David Fox (pictured), from High Glades Medical Centre, says; “During this pandemic, many carers in Hastings are having a particularly difficult time and many more local people have become carers for the first time. Sometimes carers only ask us for help when they are in a crisis situation.”

“This is why we are taking part in this joint project with Care for the Carers. As a practice, we feel strongly that we can identify carers sooner, encourage them to register as a carer with us, and let them know about the support that is available as early as possible. This will help us to give the appropriate healthcare to carers at the right time, as well as improve carers’ wellbeing.”

“We inform our patients who are carers about Care for the Carers, who are the East Sussex Carers Centre with an excellent, professional team who provide free specialist support to unpaid carers. We are promoting this service at every opportunity and making sure that all our staff know about them.”

All carers can request that their surgery add them to their Carers Register so their GP knows that they look after someone, and may need support. Jennifer Twist, CEO, Care for the Carers says; “We are delighted to be working with local practices to support carers, especially during this particularly difficult time. Looking after someone can be stressful and can affect your own health, and often people don’t know where to go for information so end up struggling under the pressure. It is great news that the practices are recognising carers and implementing best practice – working together we will be able to reach more carers with the right support when they need it.”

There are an estimated 10,000 carers in Hastings, with 34,000 additional carers caring for someone in East Sussex because of the pandemic.

Care for the Carers provides support for all unpaid carers in East Sussex. As the local Carers Centre, they act as the single point of contact for anyone looking after a family member, neighbour or friend. Find out more on their website at: https://www.cftc.org.uk.

See also: Sussex people reveal what it is like to live with the effects of Long Covid