Over half of
GP practices in Wiltshire have achieved an Investors in Carers award which
gives recognition to surgeries supporting unpaid carers in the local community.
The awards
were presented by Dr Steve Rowlands, Chair of Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning
Group (CCG) at a ceremony that took place during Carers Week 2013.
The ceremony
celebrated the success of the first year of the GP Accreditation Scheme which
is delivered by Carer Support Wiltshire, a charity supporting carers across the
County.
One way to
achieve an award is hosting a carers’ clinic which offers a health check with a
nurse and an opportunity to chat with a support worker about your caring role.
Liz Vine, a
carer who has attended a clinic, said: “When I was first asked if I would like
to attend a carers’ clinic at my surgery my first thought was ‘what for?’ but you
have no idea what useful information you might gain from the meeting.
“I spoke to
two ladies from Carer Support Wiltshire who were both lovely and made me
realise just how volatile I was. For me it was both informative and
therapeutic.”
It is hoped
that the scheme, joint funded by Wiltshire Council and NHS Wiltshire CCG, will
encourage the 22 surgeries not yet achieving an award to offer better services
for carers in the coming year.
A Carers
Lead from a surgery already at gold level said: “This scheme encouraged us to
rethink how we can deliver better services for our carers and if possible
support other carers in the community.
“We hope
that by continuing our work with Carer Support Wiltshire we can make more
agencies that we come into contact with aware of their services, increase the
numbers of carers on our register and improve the level of support that is
offered to them.”
For further
information about the GP Accreditation Scheme, please contact Carer Support
Wiltshire on 0800 181 4118 or visit www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk
