Carers – information for carers
We recognise the essential role played by carers, families and friends in supporting our patients.
Who is a carer?
A carer is defined as anyone who offers unpaid care and assistance to a family member or friend who is unable to manage without help due to illness, disability, mental health challenges, or addiction.
Our Patient Experience team works in partnership with carers to support the people they’re caring for. If you are a carer yourself, we want to hear about your experience of the hospital so we can identify what works well for you and any additional support we could give.
The QEH Carers’ Card
Some carers wish to continue their caring role, for example assist with personal care, while the patient is in hospital. We’ll always aim to support his – but as carers should not feel obliged to continue their caring role. The QEH Carers’ Card is issued to carers after discussion and agreement with the patient, carer and staff about the caring duties that the carer wishes to continue.
Norfolk and Waveney Carers’ Identity Passport
Unpaid carers have told Carers Voice and the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board that they want to be identified in healthcare settings. Carers Voice has co-produced a Carers Idenity Passport to ensure carers of all ages, including young and parent carers, in Norfolk and Waveney are recognised.
The Carers Identity Passport comes in both physical form as a card and lanyard, or digital for your mobile phone.
The Carers Identity Passport is for identification only, and is issued directly from Carers Voice.
Phone: 07932095312
Email: carersidentitypassport@carersvoice.org
Carer Friendly Tick Award – Health
The QEH is accredited with a Carer Friendly Tick award by the Caring Together Charity for the outstanding support that we offer to unpaid carers during a patient’s stay.
Organisations offering support
All local authorities have duties under the Care Act to ensure carers are identified, offered an assessment of what they need to carry on as a carer, and given help to address identified needs. The main local agencies providing support and information are shown below.
Carers Matter Norfolk
Carers Matter Norfolk is the free countywide support service for unpaid carers for those aged 16 and over, caring for someone living in Norfolk aged 18 and over. Services include free confidential advice line, one-to-one support / peer support, emergency planning, and education and training.
Phone: 0800 083 1148
Email: info@carersmatternorfolk.org.uk
Young Carers Matter Norfolk
A partnership between Voluntary Norfolk and the Benjamin Foundation to ensure that young carers receive the necessary support to thrive. Young Carers Matter Norfolk deliver one-on-one support, group and information sessions, access to activities and outings during school holidays, and additional family support.
Phone: 0800 083 1148
Email: info@youngcarersmatternorfolk.org
Caring Together Charity
A regional charity working in Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Norfolk, providing information and advice, running services in local communities and campaigning for carers’ rights. Caring Together also provide homecare and breaks for people with care needs, and support in a crisis.
Phone: 0345 241 0954
Email: hello@caringtogether.org
Family Voice Norfolk
Working with the local authority and health and social services, Family Voice Norfolk are the parent carer forum for Norfolk. They are an independent voluntary organisation funded to improve services for children and young epople with special educational needs and / or disabilities and their families.
Phone: 07950302937
Emai: membership@familyvoice.org.uk
Carers First Lincolnshire
Offering support to unpaid carers, aged 16 and over, supporting someone in Lincolnshire with help and advice, as well as one-to-one practical and emotional support.
Phone: 0300 303 1555
Email: hello@carersfirst.org.uk
Contact us
For information about how we can support carers or if you have any suggestions or concerns about the support provided for carers, contact our Patient Experience team:
Phone: 01553 613753
Email: patient.experience@qehkl.nhs.uk
Page last reviewed: 12 June 2025