GP's Guidelines for Good Practice.

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers in partnership with the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has published a new guide for general practitioners to help them support carers.

Supporting Carers aims to ensure carers are recognised in practices so that they and those they care for are in better health.The guide seeks to encourage the sharing of good practice nationally and raise awareness within teams. GPs and are usually the first place that carers have contact with the NHS. And they are uniquely placed to recognise that someone is, or is about to become, a carer.

“The relationship between carer and GP practice is a special one and should be recognised as a partnership in care,” says Professor Nigel Sparrow, Chair of the Professional Development Board at the RCGP, in his introduction to the guide.Carole Cochrane, Acting Chief Executive at The Trust, said: “We believe that this guide will help develop a greater understanding of carers’ issues and the support that they need within GP practices.

This guidance has been produced by the BMA’s Committee on Community Care to assist doctors in all settings in their work with carers.  It outlines:

• who carers are

• the legislation and government guidance which relates to services for carers

• what carers need

• how doctors can help and support carers

• the special needs of young carers

• dealing with issues of confidentiality

• other support available to carers

• other sources of information on caring issues for doctors, carers and other healthcare professionals.

Guidelines for Good Practice