Coronavirus is a contagious disease that is affecting everyone throughout the country. We need to work hard to make sure that we do not spread the infection to others around us. As a carer for someone with health difficulties, or a carer for children, you are probably worried about your loved ones' care and want to make sure that they are protected and stay well, whether that is at home or in hospital. As a carer, it is also important we do everything we can to help you keep healthy.
We will do our very best to continue to provide services and work with you to keep the person you care for safe and well. We have adjusted the way we provide care and support but you can still contact us if you need to. Carer support is still available from a variety of organisations and you can read our information below on how to contact them.
Derbyshire’s hospitals, GP practices and pharmacies are now vaccinating priority patients and staff against COVID-19. Priority is based on age and existing health risks. The priority groups have been identified based on the risk of people getting coronavirus and experiencing serious symptoms.
You can book your appointment now using the National Booking System or by calling 119 if:
- you are aged 50 or over
- you have previously received a letter saying you are at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable)
- you are an eligible frontline health worker
- you are an eligible frontline social care worker
- you are a paid carer or an eligible unpaid carer
If you are not in one of these groups, please wait to be contacted by the National Booking System or your GP practice.
There is more information on the COVID-19 vaccination programme on the Joined Up Care Derbyshire (JUCD) website or on the NHS website.
To book your vaccination appointment, you will need your NHS Number. Look at this link to find your NHS Number. You should also be able to find your NHS Number on any letter or document you have received from the NHS, including prescriptions, test results and hospital referral or appointment letters. If you cannot find your NHS Number in these ways, you can ask your GP practice to help you. They should be able to provide the number for you as long as you are registered with them. To protect your privacy, you may be asked to show a passport, driving licence or some other proof of identity.
If you are not registered with a GP, this link will provide you with details. The registration process requires a form to be filled in (not on line) and then handed to the relevant GP practice. The GP practice should be able to assist with filling in the form if needs be. You can register with a GP practice to get an NHS number. If you do not already have an NHS number, you'll be assigned one during registration. You'll get a registration letter in the post and your NHS number will be shown in the letter.
These uncertain times can be very worrying if you care for someone with mental illness. If you are worried it is important you try and get support for yourself.
If you live in Derbyshire
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Derbyshire Carers Association
If you are a carer or concerned about a carer call 01773 833833 or email info@derbyshirecarers.co.uk and one of the team will discuss how they can help. The team is also contacting Derbyshire’s most vulnerable carers to review their current situation and make sure that carers and their families are connected to support services. These include services such as food deliveries, prescription collections and befriending. For further information, visit the website. -
Derbyshire Carers Association also provides the Young Carers Service.
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Derbyshire County Council
Derbyshire County Council is co-ordinating a community response across the county to make sure vulnerable residents are supported through the coronavirus outbreak. If you need help, advice or support visit the website www.derbyshire.gov.uk or call them on 01629 535091 -
Alzheimer's Society - Derbyshire Dementia Support
The Alzheimer's Society will increase the number of keeping in touch telephone calls with service users to help support their wellbeing and guard against isolation. It has also extended the operating hours of the national Dementia Connect Support Line. Trained advisers can be contacted via 0333 150 3456 for advice and guidance. For further information visit the website www.alzheimers.org.uk
If you live in Derby City
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Derby City Council
The council, together with Community Action Derby, Derby Homes, the University of Derby and Thrive Derby, has created a Derby COVID Community Response Hub to coordinate help and support for people who live alone or who are self-isolating with partners or relatives during this crisis. Email covidsupport@communityactionderby.org.uk or call 01332 640000. You can also visit the website www.derby.gov.uk -
Derbyshire Carers Association
You can contact Derbyshire Carers Association directly on 01332 200002 and have a Carers Conversation. You can also email it at derby@derbyshirecarers.co.uk or visit the website for further information: www.derbyshirecarers.co.uk. -
Making Space - Derby City Dementia Support
Please call 01332 497640 or email derbycity.dementia-service@makingspace.co.uk for advice and support.
Further information
Online information
Helplines
- NHS Carers Direct 0300 123 1053
- Mind Infoline 0300 123 339
- Age UK Advice Line 0800 055 6112
Advice for Carers from Derbyshire County Council
If you are a carer you may be thinking about what support is available for both the cared-for person and yourself from the Derbyshire County Council. Derbyshire Community Response Unit can offer advice on getting help if you need it.
Advice for Carers from Derby City Council
Derby COVID Community Response Hub aims to coordinate help and support for people who live alone or who are self-isolating with partners or relatives during this national crisis.
Carers in Derbyshire website
Please view the advice for carers from the Carers in Derbyshire website.
The Trust has launched a new scheme, which aims to encourage ongoing communication between people who are currently being supported on one of our inpatient wards and their friends and families.
‘Thinking of you’ is a scheme through which friends and families can write a letter to an individual on our wards, perhaps with some photographs or other images that they would like to include. A small team will then confidentially print this information, in a way that is discreet and respects your privacy, place it in an envelope and make sure it reaches the intended recipient.
How the scheme works
Please make sure you include the following information with your email:
- Full name of the patient that you are sending your message to
- Their date of birth – if you have it
- The unit and ward name where they are staying
- Contact details for the sender including a phone number and email address if possible
- The message and any images or pictures, either within the email or sent as attachments.
Please be aware of the following guidance about your message:
- We cannot pass on videos through this scheme
- Please make sure the content of the message is appropriate. This means you would feel comfortable if someone else read the message
- Attachments to your email, such as images, must not exceed 10 MB in total.
If you would like to send a letter to a loved one on our wards, please email it to dhcft.thinkingofyou@nhs.net.
In this section we will be sharing useful resources and links to support parents and carers during this time.
- Dave the Dog is Worried About Coronavirus is a book for children about coronavirus that aims to give information without fear.
It aims to open up the conversation about coronavirus and some of the things children might be hearing about it and provide truthful information in a reassuring and child-friendly manner.
Parents and carers are welcome to download and share the book using the link above.
Have the contact details of the person you are caring for changed recently? If so, please let us know by telling a member of the team who supports them.
Help us keep their NHS records up-to-date by telling us if they:
- have changed address or telephone number
- have changed GP
- want letters sending to another address.
We’d also like to know if your contact details have changed, as their carer.
We are also encouraging service users to share their mobile phone number and email address so we can contact them about their care, send appointment reminders and seek feedback about their experience of our services.
This information is also helpful for arranging video consultations.
Helplines
• NHS Carers Direct 0300 123 1053
• Mind Infoline 0300 123 339
• Dementia Connect Support Line 0333 150 3456
• Age UK Advice Line 0800 055 6112
