Dorset Community Action) are looking to interview Informal Carers and/or Carer groups about their experiences as Informal Carers when the person they support has been in hospital.
The aim of the project (run in conjunction with Dorset HealthCare and Healthwatch) is to find out how to identify Carers better when someone is admitted to hospital, allow them to share their valuable insight into how to support people whilst in hospital and to improve discharge processes when someone leaves hospital. This insight will be directly embedded into training for healthcare professionals to improve their understanding of Carer’s needs.
“Carers are often not identified, consulted or informed appropriately during a person’s stay and discharge in hospital. We hope through this project to gain some in-depth insight into what barriers need to be removed to make the experience of Carers better when the person they support is in hospital.
We would welcome the opportunity to join any group you run that would be appropriate or to be contacted by anyone who would like to discuss their story. Whether as a Carer supporting someone being:
– Admitted to hospital
– An Inpatient
– Discharged from hospital.
The term “Informal Carer” would apply to anyone who supports someone to live as independently as possible. That may mean they live in the same house, or they support from a distance. It may mean they are a “registered” carer, receive carers allowance, or they are a family member who helps as part of their family relationship.
By listening better to the needs of those who care for patients in hospital, we can improve the experience for the patient, the carer and the professionals seeking to support them during and after their stay in hospital.
As well as collecting valuable in-depth insights, we hope to produce a series of videos and audio recordings which can be used to aid the training of healthcare professionals to better understand the needs of carers. All of the videos and audio recordings will be available on Dorset Community Actions website to aid the learning of all groups in the need to support carers.”
Contact julie.wigg@dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk to register your interest or find out more.
