Are you a carer?

You may not consider yourself a carer as caring is often something, we do for family or friends without question and without defining or labeling it as such. If you provide care to someone who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and they couldn’t manage without your support then you are a carer.

Carers may be of any age and perform any number of different tasks to support the person they are caring for from providing practical support like shopping and meal preparation to personal care such as washing and dressing or even emotional support.

Carers Lead

I’m Kate the Carer’s Lead here. I’ve worked here at the surgery since 2018 initially I was part of the reception team and now I hold dual roles here as the Care Co-Ordinator and Social Prescribing Lead. I’m passionate about identifying and supporting as many carers as possible.

How and why should you register with us

Being a carer is often rewarding but we also know the role can be challenging and for some people very isolating. We at Puddletown Surgery want to support our carers, we know what a valuable and important role you have. Therefore, it is important that you let us know that you are a carer.

To tell us you’re a carer please call us on 01305 848333 or email puddletown.reception@dorsetgp.nhs.uk marking for the attention of Kate, Carers Lead. Alternatively let a member of staff when you are next in the surgery.

Once you’ve told us you care for someone we will add you to our carer’s register which means practice staff will be aware of your role and we may be able to offer you further support to take care of your own health such as free flu vaccinations, referrals to dedicated carer’s services for specialized support and more. All newly registered carers will receive a call or letter from our Carers Lead Kate and a carers support pack.

Carer Support Dorset

If you care for someone who lives in the Dorset Council area we encourage all our carers to also register with Carer Support Dorset. They are a nonprofit service funded by Dorset Council who help carers access services and information to make their role easier, including training, befriending, benefits advice etc. They also offer a carers discount card once registered which offers discounts at many local shops and services. CRISP is the service if you care for someone living in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole.

Primary Care Network Carers Information Page

Puddletown is one of nine surgeries within the Mid Dorset Primary Care Network (PCN). The PCN was set up in order for our local surgeries in Mid Dorset to work together to enable a great provision of proactive, personalised, coordinated and integrated health and social care for people closer to home.

That is why we have created a joint Carers Information Page on the PCN website which holds the rest of the information that is available to support you as a carer:

Carers « Mid Dorset Primary Care Network (mid-dorsetpcn.co.uk)

Please now visit the PCN Carers Information page for further information, advice and support on things such as: