Carers Matter!

Hello everyone,

As Director of Nursing for Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals I want to make sure the care and treatment that you, your family and friends receive when in hospital is safe and focused on your needs.

We know that anyone receiving healthcare wants to be listened to and involved in decisions about their care and treatment, but we realise the importance of including and listening to those who support them at home as well.

We constantly receive feedback from you the public, which allows us to review our practice. From your feedback it was clear that some carers also needed support and advice whilst those they provide care for were in hospital. This might be anything from simple information, to concerns around discharge and ongoing care.

Hospital Support

We have a Carers Team led by an experienced Carers Co-ordinator based in each of our Acute Hospitals. The team provides support and assistance to carers during the period of hospitalisation as well as advice with signposting to help in the community. You can find their contact information near the main entrance in each Acute Hospital or in the Carer Information Section of the NHS Lanarkshire website. www.nhslanarkshire.org.uk

Following the success of these teams we have now extended and expanded teams into other areas of healthcare such as mental health where they will provide advice and support to carers.

Carers Champions

Although we have a centralised Carers Team we’ve been working hard over the last two years in an effort to have specially trained staff in all wards and departments to support carers.

Nursing staff have undertaken a course delivered by a range of partners such as Carers Support Teams and Young Carers Support Teams from North and South Lanarkshire Councils; Social work Teams, Princess Royal Trust and Alzheimer Scotland. These nurses have a role to support families and carers by advising, signposting and referring to the Carers Teams. They also provide advice and support to their teams at ward level. Many of them have become Dementia Friends through work with Alzheimer’s Scotland. This provides them with knowledge to enhance their role in caring for people with dementia.

These nurses are proud to be called Carers Champions!

Whilst we will never know those we provide care for as well as their families and friends who support and care for them at home; we aim to promote a Partnership in Care approach which enhances the quality of care we can deliver.

If you have an experience of Lanarkshire hospitals you would like to share, please speak to a member of staff, respond on Patient Opinion, or visit the “Your Feedback” Section of the NHS Lanarkshire website to see the other ways to get in touch www.nhslanarkshire.org.uk

Kind regards