Latest news for Carers
Carers Emergency Response Service
The Carers Emergency Response Service
is delivered by Carers in Bedfordshire and is
available to every carer in Bedford Borough. The service has two
main aims. One is to help carers to plan for alternative care for
the person that they care for in the event of an emergency
happening to the carer which temporarily prevents them from
caring. The second aim is to put those plans into place if an
emergency happens, giving carers the peace of mind that the person
that they care for will be looked after. Carers who use the service
will receive:
- An information leaflet to help carers plan for their carers
assessment (which contains a section on planning for an emergency)
and also suggested possible alternative care options.
- A visit from a Carers in Bedfordshire support worker who will
sit with the carer and help them plan in some depth for an
emergency.
- A completed carers emergency plan. Carers in Bedfordshire will
hold a copy of that plan so that they can put the plan into action
if an emergency happens to the carer.
- An Emergency Plan for them to keep and share with the person
they care for, their family and any nominated responders
- A journal for carers and the person they care for to detail
their normal life and how they want to be cared for if the carer is
absent during the emergency.
- A Carers Emergency Card with the number to ring if the
emergency plan needs to be activated.
Carers Lounge
Carers in Bedfordshire has opened the Carers Lounge based
in Bedford Hospital on the ground floor in South Wing. (Follow the
signs to the “Committee Room").
At The Carers Lounge you will be able to meet carer support
workers and on different days there will be staff that specialise
in areas of supporting carers. They are there to offer
advice, support and information to visiting carers of all ages and
to identify new carers.
So if you are visiting Bedford Hospital, please call in for a
coffee and a chat! No appointment or referral is needed.
More information
and contact details available here.
NHS breaks for carers
We are very mindful of the vital roles that carers play and the
support they need to maintain their own health and well
being.
In 2011/12 199 adult carers in Bedford
Borough successfully applied for a NHS carers’
breaks, which funded activities as diverse as holistic
therapies, golf lessons and gym membership. Sixty five young
carers were also supported to take a break, which included
activities such as:
- Horse riding
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Kickboxing
- Laptops
- Theatre breaks
- Stage school classes
More information on adult carers
breaks and young carers breaks is
available from Carers in Bedfordshire