Carers

 One in ten people in the UK is a carer and this currently equates to 6 million carers with over one million caring for over 50 hours per week.
It is estimated that carers save the government and the taxpayer up to £87 billion a year.
This compares with the £99 billion spent annually on the NHS and £15 billion on social care in the UK.
In simple language for every £1 we spend on social care this is matched by £6 of care provided by voluntary carers.
There are over 10,000 carers in Wyre, and of these three to four thousand residents spend at least half of the equivalent of a working week providing care for a partner, relative, friend or neighbour.
Unfortunately a recent study undertaken by Lancashire NHS trusts shows that over 80% of carers are never identified and this figure is confirmed in the national experience.
If you are invisible you cannot be helped and all the evidence points to carers themselves being much more likely to develop mental and physical problems, which in turn reduces their ability to care.
The relationship between carers and their GP is a special one and should be recognised as a partnership in care. GPs and their colleagues in the primary healthcare team are in a unique position to identify and support carers by making them aware of their own health needs, supporting them
emotionally and practically and providing useful information.

A pilot scheme has been launched in two GP practices in Wyre and Fylde, with the backing of carer support organisation, Carer's Point! and encouragement from Wyre Senior forum members.
This involved training practice staff in the value of identifying and supporting carers, assistance with practice displays, posters and leaflets and running occasional carer “surgeries” within the practice in order to identify and help carers.
The success of the pilots has led to an award by Lancashire County Council to expand the scheme to other practices in Wyre.
Carers Point! is looking to recruit a team of volunteers to assist in the delivery of this new service to carers within GP surgeries. The aim of the service is to increase the knowledge and ability of staff within the surgeries to identify and support carers. Volunteers will assist Carers Point! with one to one sessions held with carers in GP Surgeries, training and raising awareness of GP surgery staff.
Volunteers will be the promotional presence within the GP Surgeries and the link between Carers Point! and the practice team.
All volunteers will be trained to a high standard, including building knowledge of carers rights, legislation and the support offered by Carers Point! and other relevant organisations. There will also be a full organisational induction covering health and safety, expenses etc. Volunteers will shadow other experienced team members and once it is agreed by both the volunteer and their mentor the volunteer will start to deliver certain parts of the service independently. Volunteers will continue to receive ongoing training and dedicated mentoring.

Without volunteers Carer’s Point! could not hope to support anywhere near the number of people they plan to help.
If you know someone who may be interested or would like more information on becoming a volunteer within this new service please contact Lorraine Morris at Carers Point! on  01253 362145 or lmorris@wfcarers.co.uk
If they think it is too much of a commitment or they haven’t got the time, remember they can volunteer for as little or as much time as they can spare.