CEDARS MEDICAL GROUP NO 006 06 ISSUE

CEDARS MEDICAL GROUP NO 006 06 ISSUE
CEDARS SURGERY PUBLICATION SCHEME THIS PUBLICATION SCHEME PROVIDES



This document is a draft - before using any part of this material, Practices should check the contents and adapt the text to suit their circumstances and style



CEDARS MEDICAL GROUP

No : 006 - 06


ISSUE : 5

CARERS PROTOCOL

DATE : 27/4/09


OWNER : TRACIE WEBB


REVIEW : April 2011





1. INTRODUCTION


The following protocol sets out the mechanisms the Practice has in place for identifying carers and ensuring that they are referred appropriately to Adult Care Services for a Carers Assessment.


2. DEFINITION OF A CARER


Individuals irrespective of age, who provide or supervise a substantial amount of care on a regular basis of a child, relative, partner or neighbour who is unable to manage on their own due to illness, disability, frailty, mental distress or impairment.


The term “carer” would not normally apply if the person is:


3. Protocol


Research indicates that 2000 patients on a GP list are likely to include about 200 carers. Of these about 67 are likely to be caring for more than 20 hours a week, including about 40 caring for more than 50 hours a week.


This protocol aims to ensure that carers registered with the Practice are identified and referred to Adult Care Services if appropriate.


There are two methods of identification – self identification and Practice identification and the Practice has put in place mechanisms for both of these.


4. SELF IDENTIFICATION


4.1 Notice boards

The Practice has information on notice boards for carers which has details of support organisations and Adult Care Services. It contains a poster asking carers to let the Practice know about their caring responsibilities using the Carers Referral form (appendix A) available on Practice Guidelines.

4.2 Prescriptions

Anyone collecting a prescription on behalf of someone else may be passed a Carers referral form.

4.3 New Patient Registration Forms

The Practice’s new patient registration form asks the two questions ‘do you have a carer?’, ‘are you a carer?’.

This information will be used in the new patient screening appointment to tag the patient’s notes and arrange referral to Care Services.



5. PRACTICE IDENTIFICATION.


5.1 Data Validation


The practice completes a regular data validation to ensure the maintenance of patient records. This validation includes questions ‘do you have a carer?’ and ‘are you a carer?’. Information from the data validation is coded onto the Practice computer system and carers will be followed up using the Carer referral form.


    1. Health Professional identification


All Health Professionals in the surgery complete referral forms when they ascertain a patient is a carer. May also be part of a regular discussion at multi-disciplinary team meetings using wider knowledge base.


    1. Patient Forum


The Practice uses the Patient Forum to highlight and promote the needs of Carers.


6. Consent


All carer registrations will, in the first instance, be reviewed by the patient’s usual doctor who will confirm that the patient is competent to give a valid informed consent.

A consent form (appendix B) will then be issued to the Patient to confirm their consent to their Carer having access to their personal details and /or copies of correspondence.

Consent forms will be scanned to patient records.


7. Practice data Coding


The following codes will be used to identify carers and patients who have carers.


Is a Carer Ub1ju

Has a Carer 918F

Referral to Social Services XaAey

Assessment of carers needs completed Y2593


Where relevant add text relating to the relationship to the patient, degree of care given, outcome of assessment etc.



8. Referral Procedure


Where the carer consents to a referral to support agencies for assessment of needs this should be made to:


Statutory assessment of needs, carried out by Social Care Direct


Social care direct will put the carer in touch with a trained contact officer. They will ask questions about the carer’s situation and decide whether they are able to help.

If this is the case they will arrange for an assessment of needs. If they are unable to help they will advise if there are other sources of help available.

Opening Hours

Social Care Direct is open from 8am until 8pm, Monday to Friday and Saturday morning from 9am until 1pm.

Emergency situations

In an emergency ring Social Care Direct on 0845 8 50 50 10.



9. OTHER SOURCES OF HELP



Village Hall

Delves Lane

Consett

Durham

DH8 7BH


Tel (01207) 502688

Fax (01207) 502688

Email [email protected]



  1. FOLLOW UP


Once a Carer is identified it is important that all health professionals who come into contact with the patient and /or their Carer regularly consider the impact the caring has on them as an individual. Concerns regarding the carer’s welfare should be raised and appropriate referrals actioned.


11. ENQUIRIES


All enquiries regarding this procedure should be made to the Practice Manager in the first instance.


12. REVIEW


This procedure will be reviewed annually.



13. DOCUMENT HISTORY


21/11/06 Review of Issue 1

21/11/06 Issue 2

23/11/07 Issue 3

11/11/08 Annual review – no change

23/3/09 Changes to read codes following implementation of SystmOne

27/4/10 Changes to read code for carer





























Appendix 1


CARERS IDENTIFICATION AND REFERRAL FORM


DO YOU LOOK AFTER SOMEONE WHO IS

ILL, FRAIL, DISABLED OR MENTALLY ILL?


If so, you are a carer and we would like to support you.

Please complete this form and hand it in to reception.


If you are agreeable, we will pass your details to the Carers Service, which is a countywide organisation providing relevant information and advice, local support services, newsletter and telephone linkline for carers.


We will also refer you, with your permission, to have your needs assessed by Adult Care Services. A Carers Assessment is a chance to talk about your needs as a carer and the possible ways help could be given. It can also look at the needs of the person you care for. This could be done separately, or together, depending on the situation. There is no charge for an assessment.

YOUR DETAILS:

Name


Date Of Birth


Address



Post Code


Telephone Number


Any relevant information



DETAILS OF THE PERSON YOU LOOK AFTER:

Name


Date Of Birth


Address

(If Different From Above)




Post Code


Telephone Number

(If Different From Above)


GP Details

(If Different From Your Own)



□ Please pass my details to the Carers Service▫

□ Please refer me to Adult Care Services for a Carers Assessment▫

Thank you for completing this form

Appendix 2


AGREEMENT FOR A CARER TO HAVE ACCESS TO A PATIENT’S PERSONAL DETAILS and/or COPIES OF CORRESPONDENCE


Patient’s Name



Patient’s Address





Carer’s Name


Carer’s Address



To: Cedars Medical Group

I give permission for my Carer to have access to my medical records and personal details held by the Practice.


This permission relates to all / part of my record / specific condition only (delete as appropriate).


Where the permission is restricted to part of the record only, please specify below the precise limits of this permission, and any areas of the record which are excluded.


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


I understand that the doctor may override this authority at any time, and that this permission will remain in force until cancelled by me in writing.


I consent to my Carer receiving copies of all correspondence relating to my treatment (delete if not applicable).

I confirm that this has been explained to me by my GP and that the GP has sole discretion to withhold all or any copies.


Signed _______________________________ (Patient)


Date _________________________________


Accepted by ___________________________ (Doctor)


Date _________________________________


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