Carers Information
A carer is someone who provides help and support to a partner,
child, relative, friend or neighbour who could not manage without
their help. This could be due to age, physical or mental illness,
disability or addiction. A carer may be an adult, a child or a
young person. Carers will be of all ages and situations; many
balance their caring role with work, training and child care; many
care for someone who does not live in the same house and may travel
some distance to care.
North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol
NHS Foundation Trust (UH Bristol) have launched a carers
charter that aims to promote a culture that recognises the vital
role carers play within our hospitals. Download the Carers
Charter PDF.
In Hospital
When someone
you care for has to go into hospital it can be a worrying and
stressful time. At North Bristol NHS Trust we are committed to
working with carers as Partners in Care to ensure their
needs are met whilst they support someone who is in hospital.
We recognise that carers are essential to
ensuring the well being and recovery of patients, and that their
needs must be respected if they are to maintain this role. Carers
will have individual circumstances and variable skills that need to
be taken account of when planning patient care. Please discuss your
individual situation with the ward staff.
Patient Information and
Consent
As a Carer of someone who is in hospital, you
may need information about the person you care for, and staff may
want to speak to you to gather information about the person whom
you care for. However, the law makes it very clear that social
services and healthcare authorities have a duty to protect an
individual’s confidentiality. Staff will seek the patient’s consent
before discussing any information with a Carer. If the person is
unable to consent, then the Mental Capacity Act will be
followed.
Mental Capacity Act
(2005)
The Mental Capacity Act (2005) is a process of
what to do when someone lacks capacity to make decisions for
themselves. It covers anyone over the age of 16. It is in place
because legally, no one can give consent for another adult, even if
you are a family member.
If you care for someone who does not have
capacity, there is a legal obligation that you are consulted about
any decision that needs to be made, and that you are part of any
best interest meeting that is held. Your opinion about any decision
that needs to be made is valued, and will be taken into account
when considering what action to take.
Find out more iabout the
Mental Capacity Act for Carers.
Carers Assessment
If you
are a Carer you should be given an opportunity to talk about your
needs and what help you may need to look after the patient after
they are discharged from hospital. It is your legal right to
have your needs addressed and this is achieved by having a Carers
Assessment. Find out more information about
Carers Assessments.
Carers Emergency
Card
The Carers Emergency Card is a card for carers
which is carried at all times. In the event that they are involved
in a crisis that prevents them from caring, Emergency Services will
react to ensure the 'cared for' person continues to receive the
care they need.
The Emergency Card system is run by the Carers Support Centre.
Register for
a carers card.
For further information download
Information for Carers PDF.
Useful links:
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