NHS sets out its plans to ‘care for young carers’
Coinciding with the health theme day of Carers Week, from Tuesday (June 11) family doctors across the country can volunteer to offer a new package of services for children and young adults who perform an informal caring role for a family member.
This includes priority appointments for carers, home visits, additional mental health checks, and ‘double appointments’ for the carer and those they provide care for.
‘The challenges facing young carers have recently been brought to life by Eastenders character Bailey Baker, a nine-year old who cared for her mother, who suffered with multiple sclerosis before taking her own life.’
Research from Barnardo’s and Carers Trust has highlighted a host of challenges young people face in juggling their caring role with their education and own health, with up to 40% experiencing mental health problems.
The measures, backed by Carers UK, Carers Trust, CQC and the Children’s Society, mean GP practices may offer more tailored services for carers in their community, based on national proposals and assessed against six ‘Quality Markers’, to ensure carers in every community across the country are being offered high quality support by their local practice.
It is estimated that up to one in five secondary school pupils provides some level of care for a parent or sibling.
Many of these are ‘hidden’, not disclosing their family circumstance and responsibilities to teachers, friends, GPs and other health care professionals.
Plans are also underway for young carers themselves to develop ‘top tips’ for GPs to help 20,000 young people benefit from more proactive care, as set out in the NHS Long Term Plan.
The top tips will be designed by a diverse group of ‘health champions’ – young carers selected from around the country – and ideas and feedback on what should be included will be given by some of the 1,800 young carers attending the Children’s Society Young Carers Festival in June.
