Coronavirus FAQs, help and advice for carers

Government guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection is on the Government’s website here. You can also read specific Government carer guidance here. 

As before, the NHS will be writing to everyone considered to be at risk of severe illness if you catch the coronavirus. You may receive the letter yourself, either as someone in this ‘high risk’ group or as the named carer of someone else who is. The Government has specific information for carers looking after someone here. You can find out about leaving home to care for someone here. Carers UK has further guidance for carers here.

The clinically extremely vulnerable should follow resumed shielding guidance and should not attend work, school, college or university. They should limit the time they spend outside the home and only go out for medical appointments, exercise or if it is essential. Read the latest shielding advice here or you can call Health and Social Care Direct for help with care and support, or urgent help as a carer. Phone: 0345 60 80 191, 8am to 8pm 7 days a week including Bank Holidays. Outside of its normal office hours, the Emergency Duty Service (on the same number) will respond to serious Adult Social Care issues that cannot wait until the next day

If you or anyone you live with or care for starts to display any of the symptoms of coronavirus, you can read the Government guidelines on what to do here.

If you or anyone you live with starts to display any of the symptoms of coronavirus, you must suspend your face-to-face visits. You can read the Government’s stay at home guidance here and Government specific carer information on their website here. 

If you are caring for someone who is extremely vulnerable, wherever possible, we are all advised to strictly follow the social distancing rules. However, it may be necessary for you to be in close contact with someone who relies on you for care. Ensure you continue taking careful measures such as wearing a face covering, frequently washing your hands and cleaning all shared surfaces, whilst minimising any contact where possible.

Advice for the clinically extremely vulnerable is to resume shieldng and stay at home at all times, unless for exercise, medical appointments or if it is essential to go out. They should not attend work, school, college or university.  Further information is here.

You should continue to check the Government guidance on their website here so please check it regularly for the latest updates.

The Government has published their latest national lockdown guidance and information and guidance and information for people under the age of 25 who are providing care for someone during the coronavirus outbreak.

East Sussex Young Carers supports Young Carers aged 5-18 who care for a family member with long-term illness, disability, mental health or substance misuse issues. Alternatively, please get in touch with us on 01323 738390, email us on info@cftc.org.uk, or text us on 07860 077300.

Local community hubs have opened across East Sussex to bring extra help for people who need support in coping with the effects of coronavirus. The hubs include online forms and phone lines which anyone can contact to seek help if they are isolated, anxious or unwell at home and do not have family or friends they can call on.

Volunteers and staff from local councils and the health service will then ensure they try to get the right assistance to the people who need it most, including arranging food deliveries, medical supplies or mental health support.

The community hubs will focus their help on people who do not have an extreme medical condition but may be vulnerable because they are isolated from help, too unwell to buy food or need extra support because of coronavirus. The hubs will also bring together volunteers, donations and projects to co-ordinate East Sussex’s community response to the virus.

There are five hubs – one in each part of the county. They are usually open during working hours, 9am to 5pm, although this will vary slightly from hub to hub. Each one can be reached online or by phone. Please see the Council’s community support website page for further information.

Eastbourne

Website: Lewes and Eastbourne Councils
Phone: 01323 679722 (option 1)

Hastings

Website: Hastings Borough Council
Phone: 01424 451019

Lewes

Website: Lewes and Eastbourne Councils
Phone: 01273 099956 (option 1)

Rother

Website: Rother District Council
Phone: 01424 787000 (option 4)

Wealden

Website: Wealden District Council
Phone: 01323 443322

There is more information about these local Community Hubs on the community hubs web page.

Many shops and businesses are offering delivery, and thousands of “mutual aid” groups have sprung up with lots of people offering to help out in their local communities.  As these volunteers haven’t been subject to the usual checks, we are encouraging carers to exercise caution, e.g. by not paying for goods prior to delivery for informal arrangements. Where possible, we recommend ordering from reputable companies, requesting pharmacy deliveries, and using existing befriending and good neighbour schemes where available.  Our team may be able to direct you to delivery services and mutual aid groups if you have not been able to find any independently.

If you are on your own or need extra support, local community hubs across East Sussex have been set up to provide essentials, food and medication. See above question and answer. You can find out the contacts for the local community hubs here. 

Our team of support workers is getting regular updates from the Community Hubs and local services and will do their best to get you the help you need.  Contact us on 01323 738390.  Outside of its normal office hours, the Emergency Duty Service (on the same number) will respond to serious Adult Social Care issues that cannot wait until the next day.

New Covid restrictions which affect all of us in East Sussex have been announced by the Government. Find out the latest information here.  

You can read the latest Government guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family here.

You can travel to look after a friend or family member who, due to a lifelong condition, illness, disability, serious injury, a mental health condition or an addiction, cannot cope without your support. If you are an unpaid carer who is living or caring in East Sussex, we can send you a Carers Card if you don’t have one already so that you can show this as and when required to do so. To request a Carers Card, visit our web page or call us on 01323 738390.

You can read the specific Government guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family here.