Monica’s Mission: Getting Carers Recognised in Health Settings
At Birmingham Carers Hub, we know how important it is for unpaid Carers to be recognised, valued, and supported. That’s why our Health Liaison Project Manager, Monica, is on a mission to make sure Carers are visible in health settings – from GP surgeries and pharmacies to hospitals and community health centres.
Monica meets regularly with Primary Care Networks (PCNs), hospitals, GPs, pharmacies and other healthcare touchpoints to ensure that the voices of Carers are heard and their needs acknowledged. As a former Carer herself, Monica understands the challenges and the difference it makes when health professionals recognise the vital role of Carers.
Does Your GP Know You’re a Carer?
One of Monica’s key messages to Carers is simple but powerful: tell your GP you are a Carer.
Registering with your GP as a Carer means you can:
- Access a free flu vaccination.
- Book double appointments for yourself and the person you care for, avoiding multiple visits.
- Request letters and information to help access benefits such as Attendance Allowance or a Blue Badge.
At our Carers Rights Day event, Monica arranged for a local pharmacy to deliver free flu jabs. A total of 31Carers received their vaccination but also went on to register with their GP as Carers – a small step with a big impact!
You Said, We Did
We listen carefully to Carers through our Carers Voice programme. Earlier this year, Carers told us they often find information in waiting rooms, pharmacies or GP surgeries, especially if they don’t have internet access or confidence online.
In response, we strengthened our presence in health settings:
- Monica has visited 45 GP practices, 9 hospital sites and 4 community health centres this year alone.
- With the help of volunteers, we distributed leaflets to over 170 pharmacies across Birmingham.
- We’re working with University Hospitals Birmingham to design posters encouraging Carers to seek support.
Local pharmacists have welcomed this approach. As Priya from Hall Green explained:
“We get a lot of Carers coming in. Having this information available makes a real difference.”
Carers Feeling Voiceless
Our latest survey found many Carers in Birmingham feel unheard by health and social care professionals – particularly around hospital discharge, GP communication, and district nursing services.
That’s why we:
- Promote the Partner in Care card at University Hospitals Birmingham, giving Carers a stronger voice when their loved one is admitted.
- Added the Occupational Therapy drop-in clinic timetable to our website and invited the OT team to Carer events.
- Encouraged Carers to tell their GP about their caring role to ensure they are included in decision-making.
We are also working closely with healthcare providers to help them achieve Carer Friendly status. University Hospitals Birmingham has already achieved this, and Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust is currently on the journey.
Training Health Professionals
Monica is adapting our successful Carer Champion training for health professionals. The updated version will include real-life Carer scenarios with practical advice on how professionals can best recognise and support unpaid Carers.
So far, seven GP practices have shown interest in joining our Carer Friendly programme – a positive step towards embedding Carer awareness into everyday healthcare.
What Can You Do?
You can help Monica on her mission:
- Tell your GP you are a Carer and check their noticeboards for Carer information.
- Ask your practice if they can display a Birmingham Carers Hub poster – we can provide one.
- Encourage your GP surgery to consider starting a Carer support group.
Together, we can make sure Carers are seen, supported, and celebrated in every health setting.
