Dear London GP colleagues
Re: GPs give carers support to connect this #CarersWeek
There are more than £12.8 billion[1] reasons why carers are important to London. And that’s just the unpaid contribution they make every year in financial terms. London’s 700,000-plus unpaid carers are the unsung heroes in our communities.
This week, 10-16 June, is Carers’ Week. The call to action from Care UK and its partners is to support carers to connect. As GPs we can play a big role in achieving this.
For many of our patients, caring is a rich source of satisfaction that deepens and strengthens relationships. But evidence shows that caring without the right support and information can have a significant impact: ill health, poverty and social isolation.
Care UK, has identified key areas where GPs and GP practices can do more to support carers. Actions that Care UK suggests we can take to connect carers, include:
For more information visit the Carers' Week website. On the website you can share what you and your practice are doing and pledge your support.
We look forward to seeing your pledges and hearing about the innovative ways that you are supporting our carers.
Kind regards
Sir Sam Everington, chair of the London clinical CCG chairs
Dr Naz Jivani, clinical chair South West London
Dr Anwar Khan, clinical chair North East London
Dr Mohini Parmar, clinical chair North West London
Dr Andrew Parson, clinical chair South East London
Dr Josephine Sauvage, clinical chair North Central London
[1] Carers UK (2015) ‘Valuing Carers 2015’
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