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GP surgery

Register as a carer with your GP Practice

Why register with your GP Practice as a carer?

Letting your GP practice know about your caring role helps them understand your situation and offer you the right support. Every GP surgery is different, so ask what support they offer carers. This might include:

  • Flexible appointments that fit around your caring responsibilities, including help arranging home visits if you find it difficult to get to the surgery
  • Free flu vaccinations
  • Support to manage your own health, such as carer health checks
  • Mental health and wellbeing support
  • Social Prescribers: some GP surgeries have a social prescriber who can connect you to community activities, wellbeing services, and practical support. If your surgery has one, ask for an introduction
  • Support to be involved with the person you care for’s treatment and care
  • Some GP practices have a carers’ lead, who will be your point of contact for carer support

How to let your GP know you’re a carer

To register:

  1. Tell your GP practice you are a carer and ask them to note it on your patient record
  2. Complete a registration form if they have one (some practices offer these online).
  3. You don’t need to share personal details about the person you care for—just enough for the practice to recognise your role.
  4. Ask what extra support is available once you’re on the register, such as health checks or flu jabs.

All practices are expected to recognise and support carers. If practice staff don’t seem familiar with support for carers, ask to speak to the carers’ lead or practice manager.

Your rights as a carer

You have the right to:

  • Ask your GP surgery to record your caring role, so you get the right support, advice and signposting.
  • Be involved when the person you care for is having treatment, including discussions about hospital discharge.
  • A free flu jab, to help you stay well.

If you feel your rights aren’t being recognised:

  • Speak to the GP Practice, the Carers Lead or Practice Manager.
  • If your concerns still aren’t resolved, contact Dorset - South West Advocacy Network (SWAN) or your local Integrated Care Board (ICB). For Dorset (including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) this is NHS Dorset.
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