Leeds Community Healthcare Trust delivers key community based health services in Leeds such as podiatrists, district nurses, community falls service.  Quality and accessible community health services are essential to carers who need to feel  health support is available to them in their caring role.  Over the last year we have worked with the Trust to look at the carer experience of Trust services.  We have found that carers want health staff to hear what they have to say, to take into account their experience of the health condition of the cared for person, to respond to phone calls, to offer timed appointments and where necessary to share information.  Many other issues were identified and we are in touch with the Trust to explore ways of putting this feedback into practice in order to improve the carer experience.  More information on this work will become available over the next few months.

Jill Morris, our Engagement Worker, has completed an excellent piece of work which also  includes her findings from partnership working with GATE, identifying the Gypsy and Traveller experience of community health services.  Her work with carers with a learning disability who are caring for a family member, friend or partner has also  highlighted a particular need for identification and support.  This work will be followed up over the next 6 months.