The Care Partner Hub is a joint venture between United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (ULTH) and Carers First and aims to improve the quality of life of care partners, including young carers, those caring for someone at the end of their life or with dementia and those that have been bereaved.
Inside the hub, volunteers from ULTH and Carers First will be able to offer a wide range of services and comprehensive local resources, including carers assessment referrals and support, carers awareness training for professionals, and information, advice and signposting, in addition to being a friendly space for a chat with people that understand. The hub is open initially Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 12 noon and 4pm. Volunteers can also be contacted during these times on 01205 443093 or by emailing [email protected].
The Care Partner Hub is part of ULTH’s commitment to recognising the invaluable role of carers as experts, and the hub will raise awareness of the Trust’s Care Partner Badge Scheme, which helps recognise the role of care partners within hospitals to give them greater flexibility to stay outside of visiting hours and inclusion in care, admittance and discharge discussions if they choose to be.
Sharon Kidd, Patient Experience Manager at ULTH, said: “Part of supporting our patients is also about looking after those that look after them, especially as care partners are often the experts in understanding what their loved one may need.
“Being a carer is a complex commitment, and creating a safe space just for them to talk to people that understand, and to be signposted to support they may be interested in accessing now or in the future, is a vital part of supporting their wellbeing and acknowledging the incredible service they provide.
One of the focuses of the hub is to raise awareness of what being a care partner can mean, and to spread awareness of the help on offer to those with caring responsibilities and their loved one, and to break stigmas of accepting help to encourage care partners to seek support in whatever capacity they need to prevent burnout, compassion fatigue or adversely impacting their own health and wellbeing.”
Sam Marshall, Carers First Volunteer Manager, said: “We speak to many people that we would identify as carers, but often they say that they are just doing what families do and aren’t always aware of the levels of support on offer to them.
“The new hub creates a space in a hospital setting that’s just for carers, where they can have discussions away from staff involved with the care of their loved one and put their needs at the centre of the conversation, whether that’s a coffee and a friendly chat or being brave enough to admit they’re struggling and need some help.”
The refurbishment for the Care Partners Hub has been provided by the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity.
Ben Petts, Charity Manager, said: “Care partners play an unmeasurable role in supporting the health and wellbeing of their family members and companions, but unfortunately can often be unrecognised.
“We’re delighted to be able to support a project that can help make care partners lives a little easier, whether that’s information and referrals to give them practical support, or friendly chat and wellbeing check-in with people that understand.”