Primary care resource packs
West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (WY HCP) is pleased to launch a refreshed Guide to Supporting Carers in Primary Care, building on our place-based Primary Care Resource Packs first introduced in Autumn 2022. These updated materials bring together essential, practical information for all who work in primary care—GPs, practice nurses, community pharmacists, dental teams and optometrists—to better identify, record, and support unpaid carers of all ages.
Developed collaboratively with colleagues from health, care, the voluntary sector, and unpaid carers themselves, the guide provides a consistent approach across West Yorkshire. It includes key messages, practical tools, and direct links to local and national services, with a strong focus on promoting the role of Carer Champions in every practice. The guide also aligns with NHS England’s Quality Markers for Carers and NICE standards, helping practices meet best practice in carer support.
We know that while caring can be deeply rewarding, it often takes a toll. Carers are more likely to experience poor mental and physical health, and many delay seeking care for themselves. This guide supports primary care teams to take practical steps—such as offering annual carer wellbeing checks and flexible appointments—to make it easier for carers to prioritise their own health and access help when needed.
Our commitment is to create a carer-aware culture in every practice across West Yorkshire. By working together, we can ensure that carers are recognised, listened to, and supported—not just for the benefit of those they care for, but for their own wellbeing too.
The guide is available to download below.
West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership - A guide to supporting unpaid carers in primary care
NHS England have created guidance with practical ideas that have been developed in partnership with carers, primary care teams and other key stakeholders. Collectively, these provide a framework for improving how general practice can better identify and support carers of all ages. The packs will be made available on the FutureNHS collaboration platform available to anyone who works in health and social care and updated regularly.
Please find links to NHS England unpaid carers quality markers and NICE information on their Quality Standard and guidance: