The Welsh Ambulance Service Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) has been recognised for their commitment and support for carers and their families.
The NEPTS team have achieved the Investors in Carers Bronze Level award; a scheme which is delivered by Hywel Dda University Health Board and supported by the local authority and third sector partners in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
The Investors in Carers initiative was originally designed to help health facilities such as pharmacies, GP practices and hospitals improve their carer awareness and enhance the help and support that they can offer carers. The scheme has now been developed for other health and social care settings including some areas which are usually not recognised for working with carers. This is a unique situation with the NEPTS team engaging with the scheme in the Hywel Dda area despite the service being Wales-wide.
Pennie Muir, IiC Lead for the Health Board said:
“It has been a pleasure working with Alison Johnstone and her colleagues in seeing how they can support carers in a different way when organising transport for a patient. Caring can affect all of us so by looking at ways in which we can make an experience better and inclusive is a positive way forward.”
Joanne Rees Thomas, General Manager for NEPTS at the Welsh Ambulance Service said
“We are in a fortunate position to support service users and their carers through our work and have a key role in identifying and supporting carers who may not be aware of the support services available to them. This initiative has helped us provide a better experience for carers and has given our staff knowledge about the key services that are available”.
A carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to family or friends who are unable to manage without this help. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems. Anyone can become a carer; in most cases becoming a carer is not out of choice.
For more information about the Investors in Carers scheme or for useful advice for carers, visit: www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/carers
