Health checks for carers
Health checks – looking after YOU
When you’re a carer, it’s easy to neglect your own needs – including your health and wellbeing. But it’s so important to look after YOU.
Of course, it can be tricky to find the time. That’s why, supported by Surrey County Council and Surrey Heartlands CCG, we’ve paired up with One You Surrey, to offer carers a free, 30-minute phone appointment with a professional health care advisor, to discuss your own health and wellbeing needs. These advisors understand carers’ challenges, and with a whole half hour, that’s plenty of time for you to discuss any health issues that are troubling you.
Full ‘MOT’
During the phone call, the health practitioner will run through a number of things with you, you’re your diet, weight, how much activity you do, as well as your mental wellbeing. You can raise any particular concerns you have, and it will be a chance for you to reflect on all areas of how you are feeling. At the end of the appointment, the advisor will signpost you to relevant local services and sources of support to help you look after you.
And face-to-face Carers’ Health Checks’ – across Surrey
As well as the phone appointments, we have the same service, but in person, at multiple locations across Surrey. These are the remaining venues/dates:
- Hersham Day Centre, Elmbridge – Monday 7 March
- St Mary’s, Camberley – Monday 14 March
- Horley Baptist Church – Monday 14 March
The face-to-face appointments are open to you if you are a carer:
- Aged between 40 and 74 years old
- Not had a health check in the last five years or being supported by a GP for ongoing physical health issues
- Not on medication for a long term health issues e.g. stroke, diabetes, high BP, kidney disease
It’s time to look after you. Please get in touch today to book your appointment: call our helpline on 0303 040 1234, or email [email protected]. Or you can register your interest to attend via our events page.
Life can be very hectic when you are caring for someone, but it’s important not to neglect your own health needs. I urge all Surrey unpaid carers not to ignore their own health needs and take up this opportunity for a free health MOT.
We are delighted that up to 900 Surrey unpaid carers will benefit from the opportunity of a free health check. We know that carers are over twice as likely to experience poor health as non-carers. The strain associated with caring can be damaging to carers’ physical and mental health. This new service will help prevent more carers becoming unwell.
Read more about Carer’s Health Checks here.