Around 8.8% of people in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, approximately 33,352 individuals, provide unpaid support to someone close to them (2021 Census). Many people do not identify as carers, which means they may miss out on the support available to them.

Providing early information and support helps prevent carer breakdown. People working in primary care are often the first to speak with carers, making GP practices key partners in identifying and referring carers to the BCP Carer Support Service.

GP practices are encouraged to identify carers registered with them and offer early support. Referring carers to the BCP Carer Support Service and other relevant organisations helps protect their health and wellbeing, and can prevent crises for both carers and the people they support.

If you speak with someone in a primary care setting who is supporting another person, talk to them about a referral to the BCP Carer Support Service. This helps them access local information and speak with a member of the team. If needed, they can also be referred for a Carer’s Assessment..

Referrals can be made via our secure online form.

We offer a range of materials to help you support carers, including:

You can find these resources on the Carers Information intranet page on SharePoint.

Examples of good practice include:

If you work in a GP surgery or primary care setting and would like more information, please contact us:

If there’s anything else you’d find helpful to have available online, please let us know.