Do you care?

Hello my name is Eileen,

Part of my strategic role within NHS Lanarkshire is “carers” and I am the Senior Nurse for the Carer Support Team within the Acute Division.

NHS Lanarkshire staff will be promoting Carers Awareness Week 8-12 June throughout our Acute Hospitals and Community Services with colleagues from the Voluntary Sector such as North Lanarkshire Carers Together and South Lanarkshire Carers Network, Lanarkshire Carers Centre (Princess Royal Trust), Kilbride Hospice and many more.

'Carer' is a word used to describe what lots of us have done: look after someone we care about when they need support to live at home. This person may be your wife, husband, partner, son, daughter, parent, friend or relative.

NHS Lanarkshire is committed to supporting Carers and we have Co-ordinator for Carers based in our three Acute Hospitals, Community based Co-ordinators in North and South Lanarkshire and Mental Health Co-Ordinator for Carers within NHS Lanarkshire. We also have approximately 180 Carer Champions within Lanarkshire who have attended a full day training programme. These staff can advise you about your rights as well as the support and help that are available to you locally.

The NHS Lanarkshire Carers Information Strategy Group which has representatives from the NHS, North & South Lanarkshire Councils, voluntary services and public members meets regularly to consider issues affecting carers.

The Group has recently assessed and endorsed a new approach on how we invite and gather feedback from Carers when the person they care for has a period of hospitalisation.

Following consultation with carers, this Group developed a “Carers Information Pack” which is available throughout Hospital and Community Services.

It provides information about:

• services which can support you and the person you care for
• contact points where you can get more detailed information and further support
• what you can and should expect to happen if the person you care for is admitted to hospital
• your rights as a carer

The Group also developed the “Someone Depends on My Care” carer’s emergency card which is available from Community Services, GP Practices and Carer Support organisations.

This card enables:

• carers to identify that they have a caring role and that someone depends on their care. In addition, it encourages carers to consider developing care plans to be actioned in the event of an emergency
• Emergency Services Personnel, responsible for treating someone who has suddenly become incapacitated, to identify them as a carer and recognise that someone vulnerable depends on their care

If you are under 16 years of age, there are special contact numbers for you in the Contacts Section.

If you’d like more information please speak to a member of staff, visit one of our events during the week, or have a look at the “Carer Information” section of the NHS Lanarkshire website.

If you have an experience of NHS Lanarkshire services you’d like to share, please speak to a member of staff, respond on Patient Opinion, or visit the “Your Feedback” Section of the NHS Lanarkshire website to see the other ways to get in touch www.nhslanarkshire.org.uk