Newlands Medical Centre in Middlesbrough is celebrating its second year as a Carer Friendly GP Practice, reinforcing its commitment to recognising and supporting patients who help care for a family member or friend, and connecting them with the support available to them.
The practice currently has 788 unpaid carers on its patient register, including 10 young carers and 20 young adult carers aged 18–25.
Newlands is the first GP practice in Middlesbrough to achieve Carer Friendly status for the second year running, helping to ensure that carers are recognised and supported as part of the practice's approach to patient care. The practice has received ongoing support from Susan Lee, Primary Care Co-ordinator at Teesside Mind. This has included regular meetings, helping to facilitate carer focus groups, and keeping the practice up to date with the latest carer news, information and activities.
Suzie Moulton, Care Coordinator at Newlands Medical Centre, explains:
“The whole team at Newlands is on board with supporting our unpaid carers. We are aware of the enormous responsibility they have and the impact this can have on their mental, emotional, physical and financial health and wellbeing.
“We are grateful to be supported by many local charities and groups who share their services and expertise with us and our unpaid carers. The practice has had a recent refurb, and we consulted with Dementia Action Teesside to ensure that we made considerations for our patients with a diagnosis of dementia and their carers. We are determined to continue being a proactive practice when it comes to advocating for our patients who are unpaid carers.”
Suzie also explains that the practice has staff members who are unpaid carers themselves, balancing caring responsibilities alongside their work. One member of the Newlands team, who cares for her mum, explains how being supported by the practice has made a difference:
“The support and understanding I have received from the GP practice has helped me and the patient I care for. I enjoy being able to give my views and concerns, being heard, and my feedback being listened to. Knowing the Practice I attend has now received its 2nd award for being carer friendly puts me at ease.”
Maria Cutajar, Assistant Practice Manager at Newlands, also has experience of caring for someone and shares her advice for other carers:
“The single best piece of advice I would give is not to try and manage everything on
your own. Let the people around you know that you are caring for someone, whether that's family, friends, your employer or your GP practice. There is often more support available than people realise, but it can only be offered if others know your circumstances.
“I also think it's important to let your GP surgery know if you are a carer, as this can help ensure you receive information, support and any reasonable adjustments you may need while balancing your caring responsibilities."
Let your GP surgery know you are an unpaid carer by using our carer registration form. Find out more here
The Carer Friendly GP Practice programme is delivered by Teesside Mind across South Tees, working with GP practices to help them recognise, identify and support unpaid carers.
