Researchers from our Long-term Conditions theme recently worked on a multi-centre, cross-sectional study of 11 General Practices across the West Midlands. Over 9,000 patients completed an automated check-in screen at their GPs asking whether they provided regular, unpaid help/support to friends or family members with a long-term illness, health problem or disability, and if so, whether they felt their own needs were supported. Although only 2.7% of patients were identified as carers in their medical records, 10.1% of those who completed the screening self-identified as a carer. Of these, around two-thirds felt that their needs were not being fully supported.
In light of this there appears to be a need for improvements that ensure that carers are identified and that strategies to support their needs are implemented.
The full paper is available in the BMJ Open:
Lawton S, Mallen C, Hussain Z, et al. Identifying carers in general practice (STATUS QUO): a multicentre, cross-sectional study in England. BMJ Open 2024; 14: e083816. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083816