A Lincolnshire health practice is the first to be recognised for the way it supports unpaid carers and directs them to the right place for help.
Staff at The Abbeyview Surgery in Crowland have been awarded the first Lincolnshire Carers Quality Award from the Lincolnshire Carers & Young Carers Partnership (LCYCP).
The LCYCP works to increase awareness of unpaid carers – those who provide unpaid support to a family member, friend or neighbour who would otherwise not be able to manage to live independently or whose health or wellbeing would deteriorate without this help.
The award recognises an organisation’s commitment to identifying and supporting unpaid carers.
Julie Goy, Quality Development Lead for the LCYCP, said: “This award means that The Abbeyview Surgery can make sure that carers are identified, listened to and directed to appropriate services and support.
“The surgery is the first organisation in the county to receive the award and we’re delighted with their enthusiasm. The initial work towards accreditation started in October 2015 and the surgery has worked hard to be recognised.”
Dr Abhijit Banerjee, from the surgery said: “Since we took over the practice five years ago, we’ve changed what we do holistically and that means we’ve become a more caring practice.
“We are at the heart of the community and if we do not look after the people caring for our patients, we create problems for ourselves.
“We’re very pleased to have this award – we actively look out for carers and identify their needs and often carry out health checks.
“Our vision is to look after the entire community, not just individual patients.
“After all, if we do not look after the patients, it costs the NHS dear.
“Unpaid carers actually save the NHS around £27 billion a year, so it is in our interests to care for carers.”
