AQW 21129/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health to provide a copy of the written process that GP practices must follow to ensure the local Health and Social Care Trust’s Carers Support is notified when a patient’s record is updated to include their role as a carer.
Asked by Kellie Armstrong MLA on 22 January 2025
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 22 January 2025
- Answer due by
- 6 February 2025
- Answered
- 6 February 202515 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
There is no contractual requirement for GPs to record that a patient of the practice is a carer or to inform the local Health and Social Care Trust.
However, in the Northern Local Commissioning Group (LCG) area there is a Local Enhanced Service for Carers Health, where service providers are required to consider signposting carers to other organisations, including the local Carers’ Hub. Contracting to provide this service is discretionary - 93 per cent of the 67 GP practices within the LCG area are currently providing the service.