Macmillan ‘very concerned’ some cancer carers not trained for key tasks
Cancer patients are ending up in hospital because their carers are not properly trained on vital health tasks, a charity has said.
Carers are being left to do jobs such as change dressings, give out medicines and manage infections with no proper advice, according to Macmillan Cancer Support.
It found that 45% of carers were doing healthcare tasks without training from NHS staff or social care workers, and even those who do receive training say they only get 20 minutes on average to learn the tasks.
The charity’s poll was of 2,000 cancer carers in the UK, of which 18% provided medical help for their loved one.
One in six (17%) of these said the person they are looking after has ended up in hospital because of their lack of information or training.
Macmillan said it was “very concerned” that 1.1 million cancer carers in the UK are still not being supported, despite the introduction of the new Care Act in England more than six months ago.
This placed a requirement on local authorities to work with the NHS to identify and support carers.
Juliet Bouverie, director of Services and Influencing at Macmillan, said: “Family and friends often perform vital health care tasks for their loved ones when they’re going through cancer whilst others provide essential emotional support and practical help.
“These are huge and often frightening responsibilities. It is unfair to put carers in a situation where they are left alone not knowing how to carry out caring tasks or manage the side-effects of treatment if something goes wrong.
“Without support cancer carers can accidentally put their loved one’s health at risk.”
Ms Bouverie said nurses would never be expected to do these tasks without training, arguing that carers and cancer patients were being left in a “vulnerable situation”.
“It is also costly to the NHS, and ultimately to the taxpayer, as a lack of support for carers could be leading to increased hospital admissions,” she said.
The survey also found that 20% of carers have been asked to stay outside the room during hospital appointments against their wishes, or the wishes of the person they care for.
When they have been allowed in the room during hospital appointments, 24% have felt ignored or overlooked.
Nida Tariq, 23, from London, cared for her mother who was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in July 2012 and died in March 2014.
She said: “Mum was at home and she was in terrible way. I honestly don’t know how to put into words how difficult it all was.
“She was bigger than me and I would have to lift her and try and make sure she wasn’t choking on her sick, reaching for a bag and trying to clean things. I would be trembling trying to hold her and I would just exhaust myself.
“Carers have to carry out crucial tasks and it’s terrifying not knowing if you’re doing it right – it’s not only dangerous for them but it’s traumatising for the carer.”
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