Our GP Services team is commissioned to help GP Surgeries identify and support Family Carers, and is in contact with over 70 GP Surgeries across East and West Suffolk. Working in partnership with surgeries, we can support identified staff to become Carers Champions – staff with detailed knowledge of identifying and helping carers when we are not on site.
We can also work with practice managers to help the surgeries become a “Carer-friendly Surgery”, an award managed by Suffolk Family Carers, and given to surgeries that meet our criteria for the overall knowledge and support provided to carers.
Advisers would normally provide monthly Drop-in’s at Surgeries. These sessions allow Carers to gain emotional support or information and guidance about their Caring role, by talking to an Adviser. The Covid-19 Pandemic has meant we have temporarily withdrawn drop-in sessions, but have adapted to working from home, and continue to provide 1-1 appointments to Carers via telephone or video-conferencing. You can request a referral from your GP Surgery to the service, or you can self-refer.
A 1-1 appointment provides the opportunity to have an in-depth conversation about your caring role by talking through any concerns you may have. Following the 1-1, an Adviser can make onward referrals to other services provided by Suffolk Family Carers or, with your consent, to Health and Social Care services, such as Customer First, for a Carers Assessment.
The GP team, which began life in 2013, was originally made up of two Advisers providing Drop-in services at GP Surgeries in West Suffolk. Due to its success, it has expanded to four Family Carer Advisers, working in GP Surgeries located in both West and East Suffolk. All our GP Advisers are trained in health coaching techniques:
West Suffolk: East Suffolk:
Tracy Alexander Sally Reed
Michelle Nichols Mandy Logan
The team is supported by Ginny Lee-Scott who manages the workload and appointments.
During lockdown, the team has contacted family Carers to check on their wellbeing, and help develop contingency plans outlining who would carry out essential tasks, such as shopping and medication collection should they be needed. We can also support Carers to set up Family Carer Emergency Plans when required. These calls have been gratefully received by Carers and have led to several positive outcomes.
In normal circumstances, our GP services team can also be seen attending events throughout the year, providing support and helping raise the profile of Carers. This in the past has included the annual ‘Flu Clinics held at GP Surgeries, Carers Week (June) and Carers Rights Day (November), alongside our colleagues at West Suffolk Hospital and Ipswich Hospital.
The pandemic has not stopped this, but things have had to be done differently, with the Advisers supporting many online initiatives for Carers Week, including an online cooking session and Move It!, a physical activity session. Keep an eye open for them in our upcoming events for Carers Rights Day on 26th November.
