Carers can access new support ‘hub’

Hemel Hempstead is among the first areas to benefit from a carers’ support hub, paid for as part of a £200,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund to charity Carers in Hertfordshire.

Madeline and Dave Bulpit, of Grovehill, look after their son, aged 38, who has severe epilepsy and learning difficulties, raised some of their concerns with managers from the West Herts NHS Hospitals Trust at the service’s launch.

MrBulpit also revealed how much the new hub will mean to his family. He said: “Our son kept me up last night but even though I was tired I came here today because it is informative and fun.

“We have a laugh and leave feeling less stressed than when we arrived.”

Tim Anfilogoff, integration lead for the Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “The NHS is beginning to make real improvements in its understanding of the importance of supporting family carers.

“But we need to do better and that is why we are developing a new three year carers’ strategy to work with all our providers, so instead of going unnoticed carers are valued and helped to find support like Carers in Hertfordhire.”

The Hemel Carers Support Group meets at William Crook House in Green End Lane, Warners End, on the second Wednesday of each month.

Visit carersinherts.org.uk or call 01992 586969 for more.