Newcastle Hospitals in collaboration with Newcastle Carers is introducing a Carers Information and Advice Worker to work directly with frontline staff and patients at the Freeman Hospital to improve support offered to family members, friends and partners with caring responsibilities (carers).
Over the next year, the carers information and advice worker will work directly with staff and carers to offer personalised information, advice and where appropriate onward referral to additional health and social care services to support and enable carers in their caring role.
Maurya Cushlow, Executive Chief Nurse, The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We value the vital work of carers and promoting a culture of supporting and working in partnership with carers within our hospitals is a key priority.
“We understand that coming into hospital can be a worrying time for anyone and carers often have additional worries or concerns. The Carers Advice and Support Worker will help to identify and support the needs of carers and people being cared for.
We are very proud to be in the position to launch such a timely and important project.”
The Carer Information and Advice Worker role is part of a pilot project and has been made possible thanks to funding from Newcastle Hospitals Charity and NHS Charities Together. The new role will complement initiatives Newcastle Hospitals has introduced in recent years to support carers. This will enable staff to ensure that carer’s voices are heard throughout the patient’s journey and ultimately foster a wider, more integrated approach to carer support.
Speaking about the collaboration, Edward Corringe, Chief Executive Officer, Newcastle Carers added: “We know that caring for someone can place a real strain on a carer’s health and wellbeing. The pandemic has highlighted the incredibly valuable role played by carers and the difficult circumstances they face.
I have no doubt, that this project will directly support carers and their families to successfully navigate their way around both the health and social care settings. We are delighted to have this opportunity to work in partnership, combining and building upon our respective organisational strengths and experiences.”
Fiona Richardson, Carers Lead Officer, Newcastle City Council said: “This innovative project will enable family members, friends and partners with caring responsibilities for patients in the Freeman Hospital to be identified and offered support to guide and enable them in their caring roles at the earliest opportunity.”
For more information about the project, please email: nuth.patient.experience@nhs.net
