Carers

Many people provide essential help and support for relatives, neighbours or friends. Apart from state benefits, often the care provided is unpaid.

Many of you don’t think you’re carers and may not live with the person you care for and so don’t ask for support.

We’ve spoken to many of you and have drawn up a five-year action plan with Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust to improve the services we offer to help carers.

In brief we are proposing to:

put more money into short breaks to give you time away from your caring role
set up more day-to-day services so you can get out and about
improve night-sitting services
create a directory of carers’ services so you’ve got information at your fingertips when you want it
make sure you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to
set up support so you can work
give more practical support to you if you’re a young carer
train more of our staff to support you
increase help available to you in an emergency
work with GP surgeries and hospitals to keep you healthy
continue to talk with you about the services you need.

You can read the full version of our new plan here and then give us your views. Let us know what you think of our plans by ringing Call Derbyshire on 08 456 058 058 - our consultation ends on 12 March 2010.

If you are a carer you can contact Carers Direct, a helpline and website to support carers. You can call the helpline on freephone 0800 802 0202 or visit the Carers Direct website (opens in a new window) to find out more information or to contact them by email or post. Carers Direct is set up and run by The National Carer's Organisation, Carers' UK and the Department of Health.

Please use the following link if you have any concerns about the safety or welfare of an adult. (opens in a new window)