Frome Medical Practice is highlighting the support available to carers locally as part of Carers Week 2023, which takes place from 5th - 11th June. 

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlighting the challenges unpaid carers face and recognising the contribution they make to their families and the communities they live in. It's also about encouraging people who don't see themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access the support they might need. 

The focus of this year's campaign is 'recognising and supporting carers in the community'. This recognition and support is a key element of the offer Frome Medical Practice makes to carers, and extends to organisations working across the area who also link with carers.

Claire Rogers is the Carers Champion at Frome Medical Practice, a role with the specific remit of managing the register of unpaid carers at the practice and providing them with information and signposting to services that can help them. Claire said, "It can be difficult to recognise that you are a carer but a carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who, due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, cannot cope without their support."

"We encourage anyone who has a role as an unpaid carer for one of our patients, whether you are a patient of ours yourself or not, to register with us. And if you're one of our patients caring in an unpaid capacity for someone registered at another practice you can also register with us as a carer. Registering as carer can be done via an online form on the practice website, or speak to any member of staff who can arrange for me to send you the paperwork." 

There are several benefits to registering with the practice as a carer, including free NHS flu vaccinations, priority appointments when they are available and access to care plans. If consent is given by the person being cared for, carers are also able to be more involved in the health and care needs of the person they are supporting. 

As part of Carers Week two organisations will be offering drop in sessions in the glass office in the main atrium at the practice on Monday 5th June. The Frome Carers Group will be there from 9am - 12.30pm and the Carers Assessment Service will be there from 10am - 2pm. Anyone is welcome to go and talk to these groups if they have questions or want more information about carers support. 

Further information about the support available to carers at Frome Medical Practice, including the link to register as a carer, is available on the practice website and information on the wider support available in the community can be found on the Health Connections website.