Vaccine - unpaid carers

[Florelei]

Is anyone else having significant problems with their GPs? I am registered as a carer with them and asked them yesterday if I was included within group 6.

They said they wouldn’t be putting anyone forward as a carer in group 6 without either evidence of carer’s allowance or a carer’s passport from the council. I can’t claim carer’s allowance as my earnings are just over the threshold even though I only work part time.

I rang the council who didn’t know what I was talking about.

Has anyone else experienced this and does anyone have any tips?

Many thanks in advance.

GPs should all have systems so people can register as an unpaid carer. All unpaid carers should be jabbed in Group 6.

If your GP is getting it wrong in any way please put stuff in writing to the GP practice and copy in the CQC and your local Healthwatch.

Unpaid carers have rights to various assessments, social prescribing etc but lots of people don't identify themselves as carers (I didn’t until I was sitting opposite a poster from Carers UK and realised that my mum would be incapable of functioning without me, even though she lived independently).

Hope that SOP comes out soon.

It would be helpful if our GP surgeries would say where they are up to, that way you would know if you’d been missed or if you weren’t eligible yet.

I have to say our GP have been absolutely fantastic about this and I have been booked in for my jab next week. They even called me to make sure the time was OK

Only to say there are positive stories of GPs being supportive. Definitely persevere if your GP is being unhelpful. Going forward make sure you have your carer status flagged on your GP notes permanently.

contact your local carers' centre.

The NHS website mentions unpaid carers in band 6. Screen shot it and email it to them.

This is the quote form our local CCG....
“If you are an unpaid carer and your practice isn’t aware of your caring responsibilities, there will shortly be a local contact for you to register your details. They will collect your information and ensure your practice has this so that you will then be contacted as part of the vaccination programme if you are eligible. Please do not contact your practice directly.”
I am aware different regions are doing their own sweet thing....

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/961287/Greenbook_chapter_14a_v7_12Feb2021.pdf

Those who are eligible for a carer’s allowance, or those who are the sole
or primary carer of an elderly or disabled person who is at increased risk of
COVID-19 mortality and therefore clinically vulnerable.1

Information is on page 11 of the green book.

Copy and send to your GP if they are not listening.
I have recently become an unpaid carer. My GP practice were fantastic and booked me for the vaccine. The receptionist said she just had to code me as a carer first.

www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-vaccine-faqs
This is the link to Carers UK advice for unpaid carers. Hope it works.

My child’s is at the same surgery, they have his medical records and has an alert because of his complex needs. I provided them with DLA HRM/HRC and my military medical pension to explain why I cannot qualify for carers allowance and not only did they refuse, the told me off for wasting their time. They only changed their minds when I asked for an email response to my questions.

I posted a thread about this last week - my surgery said they would agree if I was on CA, but I’m not as I earn too much (I have two children on higher rate care DLA, all they have to do is look at their notes). Apparently I need the CA as evidence - madness. I’m waiting for them to respond.

www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/health/looking-after-your-health/register-as-an-unpaid-carer-with-your-gp-template-letter

I sent the email of the letter template, the office manager informed me they are well aware of the rules and are abiding by them. The worst if they have a big sign in the waiting room “we care for the carers”. No wonder carers mental health is in the gutter.

Also to make it worse I am down as a carer in my records but not coded as a carer. I do wonder how many are waiting patiently for a letter than is not going to come.

Bluebolt that's my situation too.
I work and although I can't receive Carers Allowance I am listed as having an underlying entitlement with the DWP.

@SinkGirl

I posted a thread about this last week - my surgery said they would agree if I was on CA, but I’m not as I earn too much (I have two children on higher rate care DLA, all they have to do is look at their notes). Apparently I need the CA as evidence - madness. I’m waiting for them to respond.

This makes me so cross. Ask them to look at the Green Book. You do not need to be in receipt of carers allowance as evidence. I would ask to speak to the practice manager and ask who is responsible for carers at their practice(Carers Lead). All GP practices should have someone responsible for carers. I suggest you inform them that if they don't code you as a carer and thus in group six for the covid vaccine you are going to raise a complaint.

For those of you getting a no to GPs adding your carer note to your file (so you are included in vaccine list), here’s a link from Carers Uk about how they can contact your surgery for you.....

If you aren’t already registered with your GP as an unpaid carer, we try and work with you and your surgery to try to put this in place for you. Contact us on 01642 488977 or via our contact form.

And the link....
carerstogether.co.uk/2021/02/15/news-item-3-2-3-3-2-2-2-2-3/

In scotland carers are being identified if they are on certain benefits centrally (nothing to do with GP) or they'll be able to book centrally (if they are registered with carers centre they'll get a letter) we're not depending on GPs at all because their registers are rubbish.

The person I spoke to said she was looking into it and would get back to me. I know they’re only just starting group 5 so there’s still time. Will give them until the middle of the week and then try again if no joy.

I would understand if I claimed I was a carer for a neighbour or random friend but our own children? Shouldn’t be that difficult to look at their records, at a letter from one of the 7 bloody consultants they have between them - one is even registered as sight impaired for goodness sake, which is one of the few things that you actually are certificated for. Sigh.

My gp would not list me because my extremely complex medical child is under 16 and so I would be her cater regardless 🙈

@Onedrinktoomany2

My gp would not list me because my extremely complex medical child is under 16 and so I would be her cater regardless 🙈

That's completely wrong! Reading this thread makes me realise how good our GPs are for carers.

I have already decided that I will need to change my surgery. I cannot ever walk back in there, if I needed help I could never trust them. My medical notes have it recorded on them that if I have visible injuries that they are from my child and not to assume domestic violence and my child has home/telephone appointments because of his complex behaviour and they told me I was wasting their time and not a considered an unpaid carer. I have never wanted so much to tell some to fuck off.

It is shocking how bad some GPs are. I have been so lucky with ours. I registered as a carer on their website and they phoned to let me know my details had been updated and said they would put me in touch with various support organisations as was also eligible for a £300 carers payment. I had my jab last week.

Ds (7) receives DLA and I was receiving Carers Allowancce for him until work hours increased so would get CA except that I earn too much.

Should I then be Group 6? First I've heard of registering as a carer with GP.

Seems clear about unpaid carers if looking after an elderly person, but what about the young?

You should definitely get the jab as part of group 6.
Just keep running the GP surgery until you get on their list.