NHS Improving Quality is working with NHS England to implement commitments to better support carers. This includes holding Evidence Summits around the country to identify good practices for commissioning carer services. Case studies from the summits will be used to create principles of good practice for commissioning services to support carers, which will be published in the autumn. NHS Improving Quality is seeking examples of good practices around supporting carers to share across health and care systems.

1. At NHS Improving Quality, our Experience of Care team is working with
NHS England to help implement its ‘Commitment to Carers’ publication.
We helped to develop the commitments, which were agreed at a
workshop in December last year, bringing together an invited group of
carers and care representatives, healthcare professionals, commissioners,
senior clinical managers, and allied health professionals. This was the first
time a national event specifically for carers had been held by the NHS.
We are now helping NHS England fulfil its commitment to provide better
commissioning support, so the needs and wants of carers are built into
We are planning four regional Evidence Summits around the country in
early July, in partnership with the Royal College of General Practitioners
and NHS England and in collaboration with Carers UK and the Carers
Trust, to identify and share local examples of what is working well. Case
studies will be used to create principles of good practice for the
commissioning of services, which will be published in the autumn. Case
studies will be used to create principles of good practice for the
commissioning of services, which will be published in the autumn.
Improving Quality
NHS
Commitment to Carers
We are keen to hear
examples of good practice
around the support of
carers from across the
health and care system,
so we can share and
spread what works.
Send your examples to
barbara.zutshi@nhsiq.nhs.uk
Would you
like to get
involved in
this work?
Download the results of a listening exercise we held to find out
what carers need and want from the NHS, from the NHS
Improving Quality website: www.nhsiq.nhs.uk/carers-report
Tweet: #NHSThinkCarer
More information: www.nhsiq.nhs.uk/carers
Carers are a hugely important asset to the NHS.
However, too often carers do not receive the recognition
and support that they need and deserve from the NHS. We
need to do more to help identify, support and recognise
their vital roles. Helping carers to provide better care and to
stay well themselves will contribute to better lives for those
needing care and more effective use of NHS resources.