Carers Direct – Telephone advice line now live

Carers Direct (www.nhs.uk/carersdirect) is a new service recently launched on NHS Choices as part of the government’s New Deal for Carers. The service is designed to improve support for the UK’s growing number of carers.

It provides carers with information, advice and support including: guidance on the different stages of caring, information for claiming benefits, advice for young carers, contact details for local authorities and support groups, news articles, and case studies with videos. A freephone advice line is open all week, call 0808 802 0202.

Future development will allow carers to receive answers to email enquiries and join online communities and forums.