A Look Back at Our Recent Carers Event

Posted on March 14th, 2026

On Thursday, March 12, we held a dedicated event for our patients who provide care for loved ones. This gathering was designed as a supportive space for carers to socialise with others who truly understand their journey and can relate to their daily experiences.

A huge thank you to Emily Atkins, our Carers Lead, for her hard work in organising the event and ensuring our carers have a dedicated point of contact at the surgery.

With 305 patients currently on our carers register, we were pleased to welcome 19 attendees, some of whom brought their “cared-for” person along for the afternoon. We also heard from seven others who couldn’t make it this time but are eager to join us for future sessions. 

Resources and Professional Support

The event featured a wealth of information displayed across two resource tables. Carers had the opportunity to explore support options, including:

• Mental health resources
• Dementia support
• Support groups and café groups
• Activity centres

A variety of professionals were also on hand to mingle and offer guidance. This team included our Social Prescribers, the Ageing Well Team, PPG volunteers, our Practice Manager, and representatives from Help and Care (who support the whole of Dorset).

What We Learned: Your Feedback

Hearing directly from you is the most valuable part of these events. The feedback we received highlighted several key areas where we can continue to improve our support:

• Information Needs: There were important queries regarding the difference between “consent to share” and Legal Power of Attorney (LPOA).
• Safety Initiatives: We discussed the Carers Campaign, which aims to ensure Next of Kin (NOK) details are recorded so that if a carer is injured, we know there is a vulnerable person at home.
• Access & Ease: Discussions were held on proxy access for carers and on how automating review appointments could ease the administrative burden on families.
• Ongoing Needs: Many expressed a need for more respite care, day activities, and support for the loneliness felt when “cared-for” individuals are away at work.

A Note for Next Time: We heard your feedback regarding the event’s structure. While the “mingling” format allowed for conversation, we will look into adding more planned activities for our future sessions.

We want to thank everyone who attended and shared their thoughts. Your input helps us make our surgery a more supportive environment for everyone.