RCGP response to National Strategy for Carers
10.06.08
Professor Nigel Sparrow, who leads the RCGP carers’ initiative,
said: “The RCGP has been working in partnership with the Princess
Royal Trust for Carers since 2006 on an initiative to improve
knowledge and understanding of carers’ needs and their health
issues. This has already produced a number of useful resources to
help GPs and practice teams provide practical support for those who
care for others, including public information leaflets and a good
practice guide. A further action guide for GPs and their teams will
also be made available this summer.
“We are delighted that the Government will now be building on this
success and working with us to develop, pilot and evaluate a
training programme to help GPs provide more personal support for
carers, both in their caring role and in acknowledging their own
healthcare needs when visiting their GP practice.
“The modules on the training programme will be
tailored to the needs of specific groups of carers – such as young
carers and black and minority ethnic carers - and the content will
be developed in conjunction with carers themselves. We also hope
that carers will be actively involved in providing the training to
the GPs.
“The training programme may then be rolled out
nationally, training thousands of GPs to better understand and
support carers. The lessons learned from the pilots might also, in
the longer term, influence the initial training that doctors
receive before they qualify as GPs.
“The benefits of such a partnership are self
evident. As well better support being offered by GPs, it points
towards closer working between the third sector and health and
social care organisations to achieve the best possible outcomes for
carers. It also publicly recognises the significant contribution
made by those who do so much for others but whose own needs are so
often overlooked.”
ends
For more information please contact the RCGP press office 020 7344
3135/3136/3137 / press@rcgp.org.uk