Primary Care
One in eight of the population in the UK are family or unpaid carers. Over a million of those carers care for more than 50 hours a week – which is equivalent to the number of staff employed by the NHS. The NHS benefits greatly from the contribution made by these carers, as they help the NHS understand the needs of the person they care for as well as providing vital care in the home that many patients rely on.
Approximately 10% of patients are likely to be carers. Of these about a third are likely to be caring for more than 20 hours per week, and a fifth caring for more than 50 hours per week. Evidence shows that for many of them, it is highly likely that their own health needs are being overlooked, mainly because they are short of time and their focus is often exclusively on the needs of the cared for person. They are an ‘at risk’ group in health terms because of their vulnerability to both physical ailments such as back strain caused by lifting, and stress-related conditions. They frequently do not get enough sleep or rest. Many are elderly themselves. For these reasons alone, they should be regarded as a disadvantaged and high priority group in terms of health care need.
There are other compelling reasons why primary health care professionals should prioritise the health of carers. The carers are playing a vital role which, if anything happens to them, will have to be provided by the statutory services in some form. Carers not only provide care but also have an important role in monitoring the condition of the person cared for, which is key for the primary health care team.
The health and welfare of the patient and the carer are closely linked. Deterioration in one will have an adverse effect on the other. If this gets to the point where the continuation of the caring relationship is under threat, then there is a major problem for the health and social care professionals to respond to. It is therefore only common sense, as well as cost-effective and economic sense to try, as far as possible, to look after the needs of the carer. By doing so, the GP practice can anticipate and prevent crises for both the carer and the patient.
