We understand that being a carer for a family member or friend can be rewarding yet challenging. This page aims to support carers for patients at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in the best way possible by answering any questions you may have as well as providing further information and details of support services available.
We know it can often be difficult to provide support to someone close to you, especially if you feel unsupported yourself. Moorfields recognises the vital role that carers play in supporting people who use our services and we ensure that your details as a carer are recorded within the patient’s record. Recent legislation, including the Care Act 2014 and the Children and Families Act 2014, aims to make sure carers receive the support they need to help them look after their own health and wellbeing. This includes a carers assessment.
A carer’s assessment is free for anyone over the age of 18 who cares for an adult and will help to identify what support you might need as a carer. The person you care for can attend your assessment with you if you are both happy with this.
You can request a carers assessment by contacting adult social care in the area that you live or you can ask a member of staff to refer you Find your local authority (adult social care) via this link:
If you care for someone with dementia, staff at Moorfields Eye Hospital can provide help and advice whilst the person you care for is at the hospital. We can offer you a “This is me” document, which is a simple and practical tool that helps staff to support people with dementia by offering reasonable adjustments to the persons care. You can also contact the hospital in advance and ask to speak to the ward or clinic staff to discuss any extra needs.
In January 2017 Moorfields Eye Hospital signed up to Johns Campaign to pledge our commitment to supporting the carers of patients with dementia. The aim of the campaign is to encourage and support carers, which includes allowing carers to stay with their loved ones in hospital (where possible) and allowing carers to be involved in the care provided to patients in hospital if they so wish.
This recognises that patients with dementia will have a better patient experience and it will facilitate their recovery and well being if a person they are close to stays with them and provides support to them in hospital.
If you care for someone with a learning or physical disability, staff at Moorfields Eye Hospital can provide support and advice whilst the person you care for is at the hospital. You can either contact the hospital in advance and ask to speak to the ward or clinic staff or speak to them on arrival. We can also provide you with a Hospital Passport, which helps staff to support people and offer the correct reasonable adjustments to manage their care.
A young carer is anyone under the age of 18 who is providing care for a parent, sibling or close family member. Please let the staff know if you are a young carer (or being cared for by a child or young person)when you arrive at the hospital and we will listen and help to support you.
Young carers have the right to an assessment by children’s social care to decide what help and support might be needed. You can contact children’s social care in the area that you live or you can ask a member of staff to refer you.
Further advice and support is available at www.nhs.uk - search for ‘young carers help’.
Our staff will be happy to give you general information about conditions and treatments. If you are worried about the person you care for, you can speak to staff to share your concerns. Please note that personal information about the person you care for is confidential unless they have said that it can be shared with you. Staff will work with you and the person to reach a suitable arrangement where possible. Our staff will respect the confidentiality of the person who may not wish for certain information to be shared.
NHS Carers Direct helpline
0300 123 1053
Carers UK
0808 808 7777
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
0303 123 9999
Age UK
0800 055 6112
Alzheimers society
0330 333 0804
Mencap
0808 808 1111
To find out what services for carers are local to you please go to carers.org