Carers Rights Day - #UnitedForCarers
Carers Rights Day will take place on Thursday 24 November and the campaign message led by Carers UK this year is 'Caring Costs':
This year, our campaign will focus on the ways in which caring costs unpaid carers. From carers wellbeing and ability to access health services, to costs to their finances and employment options and the current cost of living. We recognise the extra pressures the rising cost of living is having on unpaid family carers and their loved ones, so it is crucial we raise the profile of the financial and practical support that is available.
#UnitedForCarers – our local message
In Derbyshire, health, social care and voluntary sector organisations come together for Carers Rights Day to reach out to carers and help them find their way during this difficult time:
- Be EMPOWERED with information and support
- Feel CONFIDENT that you can ask for what you need
- Know how to CHALLENGE things when you feel your rights as a carer are not being met
In a fast-changing world, your legal rights as a carer remain the same:
- You can request to work flexibly to help meet your caring responsibilities
- You can ask if you can accompany someone who depends on you to appointments
- Your views are important and should be recognised and supported
Find out more about your rights as carer by browsing our Carers Rights section or read the Carers Rights Day blog we put together in 2019.
Get support
It’s never been more important for carers to access support if they need it. The Carer support services in the city and county are there to offer support, so please pick up the phone if you need help.
If you care for someone living in Derbyshire contact Derbyshire Carers Association on tel: 01773 833833
If you care someone living in Derby City contact the Universal Services for Carers Services on tel: 01332 228777
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have also set up a 24/7 mental health helpline that carers can use (no matter what the condition of the person they support) to get help and advice at any time of night or day. The helpline is available to those living in the city or county on tel: 0800 028 0077 (freephone)
Accessing health and social care services
Whether you are allowed to accompany / visit or not can depend on the organisation and setting. However, as a carer you have a right to ask to accompany or visit a loved one and give your reasons for doing so – for instance if the person you support would struggle to make their views heard without your support.
Most health and care settings will accommodate carer’s requests where they can and, if they can’t facilitate your request, should give you a full explanation as why.
The Joined Up Care Derbyshire website has information about how local health services and clinics are operating, which are open and which are operating a restricted service. You can also contact Healthwatch Derbyshire on tel 01773 880786
GP surgeries and Primary Care
If you want to support the person you care for and accompany them to an appointment, if possible, you should try to make this request when the appointment is made. You should identify yourself as a carer to the person you are speaking to (usually the receptionist) so you can discuss what needs to be put in place for the person you care for, e.g. advocating on behalf of the person you support.
NHS hospitals and inpatient settings
Chesterfield Royal Hospital has information on its current visiting and accompanying policy on their website.
If you have any queries or wish to speak to someone about how you can support the person you care for, you can get in touch with the hospital's patient liaison service on tel: 01246 512640 or email crhft.acs@nhs.net
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton also have information on their website about their current visiting and accompanying policies. You can also contact their patient liaison service on tel: 01332 785156 or email uhdb.contactpalsderby@nhs.net
If the person you care for is in or has an appointment at a hospital that is outside Derbyshire please check their website for information on current arrangements. If you can't find the information you need contact the hospital's PALs team. You can find contact details for all PALs teams in the UK on the NHS website.
Accessing medication and repeat prescriptions
You may be able to order repeat prescriptions from your pharmacy. In addition, many practices in Derbyshire and Derby have signed up to the telephone Medications Order Line.
Those practices who are not signed up will have alternative arrangements – you can ask reception or look on the practice website.
