The Search Is On For The UK's Most Caring GP

If you are an unpaid family carer who has an amazingly supportive GP then enter them in this year’s Simplyhealth Carers’ Choice Award

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Simplyhealth are looking to celebrate and recognise the UK’s most caring GP who does their utmost to support unpaid family carers in their communities. The winner will be awarded the Simplyhealth Carers’ Choice Award at a national event in November 2008. This is the fifth year of the Simplyhealth Caring Awards which recognises the excellent work that GPs, GP surgeries and health boards are doing for carers up and down the country.

According to a recent Carers Week survey, up to 77% of carers say that their health is worse-off as a result of caring, while a staggering 95% say they regularly cover up or disguise the fact that their health is suffering in order to continue with their caring responsibilities. GPs have a vital role in encouraging carers to look after their own health and get regular check-ups.

This year’s prize is £250 each for the winning GP and the unpaid carer. To nominate, all carers need to do is write a letter about how their GP supports them as a carer.

Please email gpawards@carers.org or write to:

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers,
Freepost RRRY-JLXK-GZCG,
Unit 14,
Bourne Court,
Southend Road,
Woodford Green,
IG8 8HD.

Carers need to remember to include contact details for both themselves and their GP. The closing date is 10 October 2008.

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For further press information please contact:
Sarah Ross, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers on 020 7709 1320 / sross@carers.org

Notes to editors:

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers is a national charity that supports over 310,000 carers throughout the UK through a network of Carers' Centres and interactive websites, www.carers.org and www.youngcarers.net.

A carer is someone, who, without payment, provides help and support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without their help. This could be due to age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability.

According to the 2001 census there are almost 6 million carers in the UK, 175,000 of whom are under 18.

Unpaid carers save the health and social care services £87 billion a year through caring at home – if they stopped the systems would collapse.

Simplyhealth
Health and well-being group Simplyhealth employs approximately 1300 people with a strong sense of social purpose shared across the organisation. Simplyhealth donates significant amounts to charitable causes each year, as well as supporting personal involvement in the community by individual employees. Simplyhealth is a long-standing supporter of the Trust.

The Group specialises in healthcare schemes and services for individuals, families and companies, which range from cash plans and private medical insurance, to health screening, occupational health and heath retailing.

Website: www.simplyhealth.co.uk

For further information:
Please contact Sue Allison, Media Relations Executive on 01264 342552