Information for Carers
Are You a Carer?
If you are please let us know - we may be able to help you
There is a wealth of information on the NHS website about carers and caring.
Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.
Local Information
Gillingham Medical Practice Carers Lead is Gemma Colllins
- Email: gemma.collins@dorsetgp.nhs.uk
- Call: 07368577844
Please have a look at the Q&A we did recently with Debbie at Abbey View, Lynne (Carers Caseworker) and Trevor (Carer Support Dorset). We wanted to highlight why you should register with the practice as a Carer, and also inform existing carers of where to find help.
We have recently compiled our carers board information into one place for ease of access. You will find this here.
We will continue to post Carers information to our Practice Facebook page but have also created a ‘closed’ GMP Carers Support Group on Facebook as an aid for our carers to share their knowledge of local resources, and to support each other. To join the page please ensure you agree to the page rules.
As a Practice, we highly recommend you registering as a carer with Carer Support Dorset. This will:
- Give you access to information and advice about multiple services across Dorset that can support you in your caring role.
- Access to the Carers Card – helping you receive various discounts across the county.
- Keep you up to date with news, what’s on and services available.
- Enable you to be part of a social community of carers.
To register contact Carer Support Dorset: Email: admin@carersupportdorset.co.uk or Freephone: 0800 368 8349
The new Dorset Carers Hub is now live on My Life My Care
The hub covers a wide range of information and advice for carers, links to the service provider directory and also signposts to other resources.
Further Information
- A guide to care and support: Information for carers and people who have care & support needs.
- Caring for someone: Advice on providing care, medicines etc.
- Care after hospital: Providing care for people who have been recently discharged from hospital.
- Taking a break: Caring for someone can be a full-time job - find out about accessing breaks and respite care.
- Support and benefits for carers: Caring for someone can be a full-time job - find out about accessing breaks and respite care.
- Work and Disability: Guidance, support and help with employment issues.
- Being a young carer: Advice for carers 18 or under and their entitlement to support
Finance and Law
Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring.
- Benefits for carers: Directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role
- Benefits for the under-65s: Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to.
- Benefits for the over-65s: Advice and information on financial support for older people with a disability or illness.
- Carer's Assement: How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits
- Other benefits: Advice for carers and the people they are looking after on claiming a whole host of other benefits unrelated to their disability or caring
Contact Carers Direct
- Telephone: 0808 802 0202
- Website
- Email: CarersDirect@nhschoices.nhs.uk
Office Hours: Lines are open 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm at weekends. Calls are free from UK landlines.
