GP Carers Register

Logo of the National Health Service (NHS) in bold white letters on a blue background,

The Government have asked all GP surgeries to register all carers. As they recognise a carers’ health affected by the stress and strain of caring.

Tell your GP that you have caring responsibilities as soon as possible,
they can then record this on your medical records.

If they know you are a carer and likely to be under pressure at times, they will be able to offer more tailored advice and, if necessary, provide more support when they diagnose and treat you in the future.

  • If you’re a carer, your GP could help by provide information and advice on:
  • medical conditions of and treatments for the person you care for to help you feel more confident in your caring role.
  • services provided by the NHS such as continence services and patient transport to hospital appointments.
  • other sources of support and advice. This could include the social services department and local voluntary agencies.
  • Arrange home visits to you or the person you care for if your caring responsibilities make it difficult to attend appointments at the surgery.
  • Arrange ‘double’ appointments for both you and the person you care for at the same time to avoid having to visit the surgery twice.
  • Arrange for repeat prescriptions to be delivered to your local pharmacy to save you picking them up.
  • Provide supporting letters and information to enable you and the person you care for to access benefits such as Attendance Allowance or a blue badge scheme.

Health check-ups and free flu jab

Life can become very hectic especially if you have lots of caring responsibilities, but it’s important not to neglect your own health needs. Attending appointments, check-ups and screenings is vital for yourself as well as any loved ones.

If you have not seen your GP for some time, why not arrange a health check? This is likely to involve checking your blood pressure, weight and urine as well as a general discussion about your health. As a carer you are also entitled to a free seasonal flu jab.