Your GP and primary care team

Your GP (General Practitioner) and primary care team can provide you with invaluable support, advice and information.

Your GP

As soon as you begin caring (or if you are already a carer, as soon as you can) tell your GP that you are a carer. This can be recorded on your medical records.

If they know you are a carer and likely to be under pressure at times, they will find it easier to offer the advice and support you need and if necessary diagnose and treat you in the future. Carers of people with serious/chronic health conditions or who are frail may also qualify for an annual flu vaccination. Ask your GP or practice for more information.  

Your GP may be able to help you as a carer by:

• Providing 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.
• Carrying out home visits to you or the person you care for if your caring responsibilities make it difficult to attend appointments at the surgery.
• Arranging appointments for both you and the person you care for at the same time to avoid having to visit the surgery twice.
• Arranging for repeat prescriptions to be delivered to your local pharmacy to save you picking them up.
• Providing supporting letters and information to enable you and the person you care for to access benefits such as Attendance Allowance or for your local housing department or blue badge scheme.

Have regular check-ups

Although your life is very busy and your attention is focused on caring, don’t ignore your own health needs. Try not to miss medical appointments and attend regular check ups and screenings. 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. Your pharmacist can also help.

If you are ill, visit your GP

As a carer, you will probably carry on regardless through coughs, flu, stomach upsets and worse; but don’t put off seeing your doctor if you feel faint or dizzy or have unexplained pains. The sooner you see your doctor, the more quickly and effectively you can be treated. Even with minor illnesses, try and take some time to rest. Your body will have a better chance of making a quick recovery and you will have less chance of the illness lingering on.