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BBC News
6 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Call for change for 'isolated' unpaid Cambridgeshire carers
Urgent change is needed to prioritise "unsupported, isolated and overlooked" unpaid carers as they struggle with growing challenges in their lives, according to a charity Together, based in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, has gathered first-hand accounts from people it supports across the county and revealed widespread difficulty in seeing a GP, money worries, and carers' wellbeing sacrificed as they look after loved ones with disabilities or long-term conditions."Thousands of unpaid carers across our region are doing extraordinary things, yet they feel neglected, taken for granted and ignored by government and decision-makers," said chief executive officer Miriam Martin. "Better investment in carers' welfare is not only a moral imperative – but a financially sound strategy, saving billions for the NHS and adult social care systems."The Carers Speak Out report has been released to mark Carers Week, which begins on Monday. Based on contributions to its online platform, Caring Together found escalating financial pressures, driven by changes to benefits such as the winter fuel payment, rising energy costs, and the overall cost of living. Many carers had been forced to reduce working hours or give up work entirely, at the expense of their financial stability and personal wellbeing. 'Self-care is a priority' People also shared the emotional and physical toll of caring, with many suffering emotional distress as they watch a family member become increasingly unwell, and struggle to get them the help they carer wrote of her mum who had dementia: "It's a struggle keeping a confused lady safe and calm. "It's heartbreaking."Another carer, Jo, lives in Cambridgeshire and has previously shared her experience of looking after her mother, who has Alzheimer's."It's very difficult when you start caring because you want to put their needs above yours but you have to realise that if you don't prioritise your mental health and wellbeing you will not be able to do the job of caring," she said."It has taken me three and a half years to realise my self-care is a priority."It's more tiring than you think it will ever be and you can't do it on your own, you need other people to help and the forums and support groups out there like Caring Together can help a lot."The charity is calling on GP surgeries to recognise and prioritise unpaid carers and the people they care for, and for MPs to advocate for thousands of their constituents in the same is also urging employers to become carer-friendly, with the support of the charity, which would enable more people to stay in Department for Health and Social Care has been approached for comment. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
13-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
AI chatbot Bridgit rolled out to Cambridgeshire's carers
An artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot has been rolled out to carers to provide a "one stop shop" for information and platform - called Bridgit - is hosted by the Caring Together Charity and can be contacted through its website or via is designed to fit around the lives of carers, who in theory will get instant answers to questions, advice addressed directly to them - and links to relevant Thulbourn, Labour cabinet member for regeneration on Peterborough City Council, told a meeting on Tuesday that the rollout of Bridgit showed the authority was "not running away from [AI]" but "running towards it". Caring Together, which works across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Norfolk, said Bridgit was intended to "complement – not replace – the in-person services available in your area".It said the system drew on "trusted sources from around the UK" including the NHS, Age UK and Carers name was inspired by its goal of "bridging gaps" in care support. Users can click on a combination of issues they would like help with, such as mobility, carer role affecting work and stress - and receive bespoke advice, videos, events and lists of local and national organisations which can provide further support. It was developed in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council. Shabina Qayyum, a GP in the city and cabinet member for adults and health, said the council said the rollout of Bridgit was "going very well in terms of the outcomes, uptake and feedback".The council said local primary care networks and voluntary organisations such as Family Voice were now piloting its use as well. 'Holistic approach' The council said in meeting documents that the digital AI programme was aimed at increasing the "independence and wellbeing of service users and carers, reducing their reliance on formal care and support".They say that taking a "holistic and person-centred approach" to meeting needs would "reduce costs, while also being favourable to users".Council documents also said the number of overdue care reviews in Peterborough had risen. "We are implementing an AI tool to help with writing up reviews to allow staff more time for review visits," the papers meanwhile, collects data from those who use it, which Caring Together said is encrypted and stored securely through either Amazon AWS or Microsoft can also write notes on how they are doing and track this over time on the platform and as well as listing their conditions and medications for themselves or the people in their care. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
