Coronavirus Latest Information from Care for the Carers

At this difficult time, we are working hard to make sure that unpaid carers feel supported and connected and have the information to care safely during coronavirus. You can also read our carer FAQs and advice here. We are still here for you, so please get in touch. Our Carers Hub is open virtually 10am-5pm Monday-Friday (except Bank Holidays) as follows: 

• Call us on: 01323 738390
• Text: 07860 077300
• Email: info@cftc.org.uk
• Facebook: Message us at Care for the Carers​ 

We are currently receiving a large number of calls, so it is likely that you will need to leave us a message when you phone.  We will prioritise carers urgently needing to access food, essentials and medication and will respond as soon as possible to other enquiries. Please include in your message your name, contact details, as much information as possible and how urgently you need help. We will respond to non-urgent enquiries within 5 working days.

All face-to-face groups, support, meetings and activities are on hold until the end of April 2020, however these will be replaced by phone and online support.

East Sussex Local Community Support for the vulnerable and those in need

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. 

There is more information about these local Community Hubs on the community hubs web page and contact details for each area are below.

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

Further coronavirus information

Government advice about Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has been announced.  Please check the latest information on the Government website here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus  which includes links to guidance about:

• How the virus is spread
• How to prevent the transmittion of coronavirus
• Social distancing and vulnerable people
• Staying at home.

The key new government measures are:

• Stay at home. Every citizen must comply with these new measures.
• You should only leave the house for one of four reasons. Shopping for basic necessities such as food and medicine, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person and any medical need, one form of exercise a day and travelling to and from work where absolutely necessary. (Please see full guidelines at: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus).
• There is guidance on shielding and protecting people, defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from coronavirus, and for their family, friends and carers.  People, including children, who are at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus because of an underlying health condition should stay at home at all times and avoid any face-to-face contact for a period of at least 12 weeks from the day you receive your letter.  The guidance is for situations where the extremely vulnerable person is living in their own home, with or without additional support. If you think you or the person you care for falls  into a category of extremely vulnerable people and you have not received a letter by Sunday 29 March 2020 or been contacted by your GP, you should discuss your concerns with the GP or hospital clinician. You can find all the information about the shielding advice for people at the highest risk of severe illness from coronavirus, as well as categories, on the Government website here.
• If you do have to go out, stay at least 2 metres (6 ft) away from other people. Wash your hands as soon as you get home.
• Use telephone or online services to contact your GP or other essential services.
• If one person in any household has a persistent cough or fever, everyone living there must stay at home for 14 days.

Specific carer guidance The Government has issued guidance here for anyone who cares, unpaid, for 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 their support.

Emergency planning – It may be useful to think about emergency planning if you haven’t already done so. As a carer you will be concerned about what would happen to the person you care for if you had an accident or were suddenly taken ill. The Carers Card enables you to set up a Carers Respite Emergency Support Service (CRESS) plan as part of your Carer’s Assessment. This includes contact details for up to three people who could provide short-term support in an emergency. You can find out more information and apply for a Carers Card here. We can complete the form with you over the phone and with your verbal consent.  

If you have created an emergency plan, please check it in light of the current coronavirus measures and consider whether you will need to adapt your plan. 

NHS information – you can also get the latest information, answers to common questions and updates on the NHS website here. 

There is Public Health England Stay at Home Guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection here.

Carers UK have information and guidance specifically developed for carers on their website here.  This is being updated in response to carers’ queries about Coronavirus and its impact. 

Public Health England has a useful blog with 5 things you can do to protect yourself and your community. Read it here.

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