Support for Carers at Frome Medical Practice

At Frome Medical Practice, we offer support for unpaid carers. We have a Carers Champion at the practice who helps carers find the support they need.

Do you look after a family member, partner, or friend who needs help because of illness, disability, mental health issues, or drug/alcohol use?

You might be a carer without even realising it — even children and young people can be carers.

How to Join the Carers List

You can let us know you're a carer in any of the following ways:

You don't have to be a Frome Medical Practice Patient to be added to our carers list:

  • If you are a patient at another GP practice but care for someone at Frome Medical Practice, we can add you
  • If you are a Frome patient and care for someone at another GP practice, we can still support you

What Support You’ll Get

Once you're on our carers list, our Carers Champion will send you information about:

  • Local support groups
  • Services for carers

As a listed carer at Frome Medical Practice, you may also get:

  • Free NHS vaccinations
  • Free NHS health checks
  • Support at times that better suit your caring responsibilities, when available

If the person you care for gives permission, we can also discuss their medical care with you, so you can support them more fully.

Local Support

Somerset Carers Service

Gives help and advice to unpaid Carers in Somerset.

Visit the Somerset Carers website

Somerset County Council

If you look after someone and you're not paid to do so, you can ask for an assessment of your own needs as a carer. This is a chance to talk about what support might help you, even if the person you care for doesn’t want any help themselves.

Visit the Somerset County Council website

Carer’s Direct Helpline

You can get carers' help and advice by calling. If the line is busy, you can get a free call back at a time to suit you.

0300 123 1053

Somerset Young Carers

Somerset Council provides support, advice and respite breaks for children and young people under 18 who provide care for another person.

Visit the Somerset Carers website

BANES Carer support

If you live in Bath or North East Somerset and look after someone, you can get support from BANES Carer Support.

Call their support line on weekdays 9am to 1pm 0800 0388 885

Visit the BANES website

Carers’ Assessment Service (Mental Health)

If you care for someone with a mental health condition, this service offers assessments, advice and support.

Visit the Carers’ Assessment Service website

Directory of Independent Community Micro-providers

Micro-providers are small, local services that help people at home in Mendip and across Somerset.

Visit the Connect Somerset website

The Zone for Young Carers – Frome

If you're aged 8–16 and help care for someone, you can join The Zone to meet others and take part in fun activities.

Visit the Zone for Young Carers website

National Support

NHS Choices

Gives help and advice for carers, like details about care equipment and aids, benefits and carers assessments.

Visit the NHS Choices website

Carers UK

Carers UK is a national charity that supports people who look after someone who is older, disabled or seriously ill. They offer practical advice, emotional support, and information to help carers manage their responsibilities.

Visit the Carers UK website

Care Home Selection (CHS)

CHS offers free, independent help to find care homes, live-in, or domiciliary care for people who are self-funding.

Visit the CHS website

CEA Cinema Card – for carers

If you support someone who needs help at the cinema, this card lets you get a free ticket to go with them.

Visit the CEA website

Carers Trust

Carers Trust is a major charity for, with and about carers. They work to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring, unpaid, for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems. Their vision is that unpaid carers count and can access the help they need to live their lives.

Visit the Carers Trust website