Free Health Checks for Voluntary Carers at Bideford Medical Centre

Staff at Bideford Medical Centre are encouraging voluntary carers to claim the free health and wellbeing checks on offer to them.

One in every 10 people are

voluntarily providing care to family or friends, but of those, only a

small number have so far taken up free healthcare checks, available from

43 participating GP Practices and Pharmacies countywide.

In Bideford the free checks are available from Bideford Medical Centre, Bideford. Tel: 01237 476363

The checks are also available to people already known to Devon's Health and Social Care Complex Care Team, based in Barnstaple.

Carers

book the checks with their registered participating surgeries or local

pharmacies, and can re-claim the cost of someone looking after their

cared-for person while they attend the free healthcheck.

The

checks are an initiative by Devon County Council and NHS Devon to

support carers. The authorities are concerned that many carers are

neglecting their own health needs, and possibly ignoring known or even

unknown symptoms that might potentially become serious health issues,

unless they are treated sooner rather than later.

In some cases,

the healthchecks have identified problems that the carers had not been

aware of, and treatments have been put in place to prevent

deterioration. The checks have also given reassurance to carers and

their loved ones about their own health.

Across North Devon and

Torridge, approximately 100 carers have so far received the healthcheck,

but GPs believe that there are more carers not yet come forward.

Lawrence Blanc, Pilot Site Coordinator for Barnstaple, said:

"Awareness

of carers' issues continues to grow throughout the GP practices, while

the vast range of carers' needs and requirements also surprises health

professionals involved in the pilot programme.

"Surgeries are

saying the most difficult part of the programme is identifying carers

and getting them to come forward for the free checks. This reflects the

difficulties and obstacles inherent in a carer’s role.

"The

most rewarding aspect is the extremely positive feedback from the carers

themselves, some even asking for another check next year!"

The

checks assess physical, mental and emotional health, including, where

appropriate, a vascular check which predicts the risk of developing

problems such as heart disease.

Lilian Quinn from Holsworthy, who provides care for her husband, said:

"As a carer, I am very aware of how important it is for me to stay as fit as possible.

"I

have previously known that I show early signs of having Parkinsons, and

have been part of a programme called Exercise for Mobility, which

promotes exercise rather than medication to control its progression.

"I

took up the offer of a free healthcheck without hesitation because I

wanted to put my mind at rest that exercise alone is benefiting my

condition. And I'm pleased to say that it is.

"My advice to

other carers is to do it. Take up these healthchecks. It's far better

to face a problem and deal with it, rather than let it catch up with

you."

Devon County Councillor Stuart Barker, who is responsible

for Adult and Community Services, which includes support for carers,

said:

"The health and wellbeing checks are to assess the health

of carers to ensure that they are well. This will help them to continue

caring for their friends or loved ones. It is not to assess their

ability to provide care.

"These checks are just one of the many

support packages that are available to carers in Devon. We introduce

carers to the range of other support through Devon Carers' Link, and

this includes access to grants and the Take-a-Break sitting service,

which helps give carers time off from caring. Help is also available at

times of crisis using an emergency response card, as other local

support and training opportunities for carers."

An up to date

list showing where the health and wellbeing checks are available is held

on Devon County Council's website, at

www.devon.gov.uk/carershealthandwellbeingchecks, or contact Devon County

Council's Care Direct on 0845 1551 007.

For more information

about other support available through Devon Carers' Link, telephone

08456 431 341, or email carersplus@westbankfriends.org, or visit the

website www.devoncarerslink.org.uk.