Llwynhendy Health Centre’s support for carers rewarded

Llwynhendy Health Centre in Llanelli has become the first GP practice in Carmarthenshire to receive the Investors in Carers Silver level award and the first in the Hywel Dda area to achieve silver level following the introduction of the Carers Strategies (Wales) Measure in 2012.
The Investors in Carers scheme is designed to help GP practices focus on and improve their carer awareness and enhance the help and support they give Carers.
Llwynhendy Health Centre has been recognised for its ongoing commitment to providing appropriate support and consideration to its patients who are Carers following its Bronze accreditation in March 2014.
Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Chair and Carers’ Champion, Mrs Bernardine Rees OBE met with Phillip Harrison, Assistant Practice Manager and Rachel Galloway, Assistant to the Management Team, from Llwynhendy Health Centre this week to present the award and hear more about the practice’s work to support Carers.
Bernardine said: “It is a privilege to present Llwynhendy Health Centre with their Silver Investors in Carers award. The role of Carers is of such importance and GP practices at the heart of communitiesare best placed to understand and support the needs of their patients.
“Llwynhendy really do have a fantastic whole team approach to identifying Carers and providing support through health checks, information boards and literature and a flexible appointment system. Their work invaluable in supporting people in their role as a Carer but also as a patient in their own right and I’d like to thank everyone at the practice wholeheartedly for all of their achievements to date.”
Phillip Harrison, Assistant Practice Manager at Llwynhendy Health Centre said: “We recognise that Carers contribute a significant saving to the NHS by looking after a relative, neighbour or friends who might otherwise have to go into long term care. Young Carers, under the age of 18 may be particularly vulnerable due to their inexperience and lack of life-skills. We are committed to providing appropriate support and consideration to its patients who are Carers whatever their age.
“Our aim is to help our Carers as much as possible by offering support and advice which may make their caring role that little easier. For example, we now offer health check appointments to Carers that focus on their own health and wellbeing. It is important for carers to look after themselves so that they may continue in their caring role without ignoring the importance of their own health.”
Patients registered with Llwynhendy Health Centre can find our more about the support available for Carers by visiting www.llwynhendyhealthcentre.wales.nhs.uk/carers or by speaking to the receptionist at the practice.

For more information about the Investors in Carers scheme please visit www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/carers.

Photo: Llwynhendy Health Centre’s Support for Carers Rewarded (from left to right): Bernardine Rees OBE, Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Chair and Carers’ Champion; Rachel Galloway, Assistant to the Management Team at Llwynhendy Health Centre; and Phillip Harrison, Assistant Practice Manager at Llwynhendy Health Centre.

The 2011 census revealed over 7500 people considered themselves as a Carer in the Llanelli locality, but by March 2014 records show only 420 people were registered as a Carer with their local GP.
The Investors in Carers Scheme was originally developed in Ceredigion in 2005, receiving national recognition, and is designed for all GP Practices and Community Pharmacies in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.