Support for carers
Find out where you can get help and support for carers.
You can contact these organisations yourself without speaking to a GP first.
What is a carer?
If you are looking after someone, or helping to look after them, and they couldn’t manage without your support, then you are a carer.
The person you help could be:
- your husband, wife, civil partner or partner
- your child (if they have a disability or long-term illness)
- your parent
- a person who lives in your household (not tenants, lodgers or employees)
- a person who relies on you, such as an elderly neighbour.
Register as a carer
If you are a carer, please complete our Carer Registration form and return it to us at the surgery. Doing so will help us to:
- support you with any physical or mental health issues you may have
- refer you to other local services
- assess whether you are eligible for the GP Carers Break Scheme. Also known as the Personal Health Budget, this is worth up to £300. You can use it to take a break from caring, or to help your general wellbeing.
Please note you need to be registered as a patient with the surgery before you complete this form.
Action for Carers Surrey
This organisation provides free independent advice and information - practical, financial and emotional - to support all Surrey carers of all ages and professionals who work with carers.
The service is free.
Phone: 0303 040 1234
Crossroads Care Surrey
A charity which specialises in providing respite breaks for unpaid carers so they can get some all-important downtime.
Patients can self-refer for support by contacting Crossroads Care Surrey.
The service is free.
Phone: 01372 869970
Email: enquiries@crosscroadscaresurrey.org.uk
Surrey County Council
Surrey Council provides a wide range of services and information for carers including help on looking after yourself as well as the person you care for. They also have a Carers Assessment Form. This is not an assessment of you as a carer. By completing the form, it can help them create a support plan for you to get extra help.
Other organisations that could help you
There are a number of other NHS services and charity groups that work in our area.
- Surrey Young Carers
- Information and advice from Connect to support Surrey
- Give feedback on services for carers (through Luminus)