A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for another person - usually a family member or friend who due to physical or mental illness, disability, frailty or addiction could not always manage without this support. This is not the same as someone who provides care professionally or through a voluntary organisation.
This includes parent carers as well as children and young people with caring responsibilities.
We appreciate that families, friends and neighbours have an important role in meeting the care needs of many of our patients, both before they are admitted to hospital and after they have been discharged.
We want to make sure that, if you look after someone, you are involved during their stay in hospital, and in planning his or her discharge.
If you're visiting hospital, please let one of the nursing staff know that you are a carer, and we will do all we can to support you and the person you care for.
You're a听young carer听if you're under 18 and help to look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem. If you're a听young carer, you probably look after one of your parents or care for a brother or sister. We will ask you if you are a young carer. If we don't, please let us know and we will advise you where to get help and support.
If you are not sure whether what you do for someone at home or in your family makes you a young carer, you could fill in . If you are a young carer, you will be entitled to support.
If you are a young carer and want to talk to someone, you can speak to any member of the ward team.听 You can also contact our PALS team by emailing sft.pals@nhs.net or calling 01722 429044.
You can also contact Carer Support Wiltshire on 0800 181 4118 or visit the .
If you are a parent, or another adult with parental responsibilities, who cares for a child or young person who requires more care and support than other children or young people of the same age you are a parent carer and can access services and support.
Looking after someone with a serious disability or illness can be challenging at the best of times. When you are serving in the Armed Forces or are a service family if can be even more so.
You could posted many miles away from your usual support networks and, as a military spouse, you may have to be coping on your own while your partner is posted elsewhere.
Courage to Care is a service provided by Carer Support Wiltshire, designed specifically to help support Armed Forces personnel and their families in Wiltshire looking after someone who couldn鈥檛 manage without them. That could be an older parent with dementia, an autistic child or a partner with mental health issues.
You can access our services in several ways:
Please see what carers can expect from the Trust's Carers Charter and and Memorandum of Understanding.听
Carers Passport
Please ask any member of our nursing staff about our Carers Passport, and they will be able to issue you with one.
The card provides access to a range of benefits including discounted parking and refreshments.
Carer Caf茅
We hold a Carer Caf茅, every Thursday, 2.30pm-4.00pm, in Springs Restaurant on the second floor of the hospital.
All are welcome to join us for a cup of tea and a chat.
There are Volunteers available to offer you any information or support which will help you in your caring role.
John鈥檚 Campaign
We support carers to have open access to visiting, and also to stay with patients who have enhanced needs and require extra support.
Carers Information Service, Stay With Me Volunteers
Our friendly team of volunteers visit the wards and outpatient departments to provide patients and carers with support, information and referral to Carer Services.
If you are a carer and are admitted to hospital yourself, it is important that you make hospital staff aware of your caring responsibilities so that there will be support while you are in hospital and once you are discharged home.
Looking after yourself
The role of a carer can be stressful and it is important to remember your own health needs. If you are worried about your health talk to your GP. Make sure you are registered as a carer at your GP practice.
You can get more information on caring for yourself from the .
The 听may help you if you have caring responsibilities.听 It is written to be particularly relevant for those who are aged 65 years or older and are new to caring.
Carer Support Wiltshire also provides lots of guidance and can offer support for your caring role.
To ensure that hospital services are developed to support carers with their caring responsibility, we work in close partnership with . They can be contacted during office hours on 0800 181 4118.
This charity runs free services for carers across Wiltshire including:
There are also many other agencies who can help carers with their caring role - please see below:听
| Support Group | Contact Number | 奥别产蝉颈迟别听 |
| Age UK听听 | 01380 727767 | 听听听 |
| Alzheimer鈥檚 Society | 0333 150 3456 (7 days) | 听 听 听 听 |
| Alzheimer鈥檚 Support听听听听听听听 | 01380 739055 | 听听 |
| Carer Support Dorset听 | 0800 368 8349听听听听 | 听听听 |
|
Carers Together - Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton |
01794 519495 | 听听听听听听听 |
| Carers Trust | 0300 772 9600 | |
|
Carers UK |
0808 808 777 |
听
Our staff at 皇家华人 District Hospital have long been well regarded for the quality of care and treatment they provide for our patients and for their innovation, commitment and professionalism. This has been recognised in a wide range of achievements and it is reflected in our award of NHS Foundation Trust status. This is afforded to hospitals that provide the highest standards of care.
