Emergency help for the person you care for

If you care for someone who cannot look after themselves without your support, you may be worried about what you would do and how you would react in an emergency.

There are a number of ways in which you can respond and get the help that you need.

GPs

Always keep the phone number for your local GP handy. Out of normal surgery hours you will be redirected to Mastercall, a local service that provides cover for GPs from 6.30pm to 8am during the week and all day at weekends and Bank Holidays. Or you can phone them direct, out of normal surgery hours on 0161 476 2299, and they will advise you if the person you care for has medical needs that cannot wait until your surgery is next open.

NHS Direct

Phone for medical advice on 0845 4647.

Accident & Emergency

Phone Stepping Hill Hospital on 0161 483 1010.

Emergency Services

In an emergency, ring 999 for immediate help from the Ambulance, Fire or Police.

Adult Social Care

In an emergency out of normal office hours contact the Out Of Hours Service on 0161 718 2118. A trained Social Worker will speak to you over the phone to assess the situation and help you to make emergency cover arrangements.

Planning ahead for emergencies

Forward planning can take the 'emergency' out of the situation for you.

• Emergency Numbers for Carers Card

Copies of this postcard are available from Signpost Stockport for Carers.It has all the emergency numbers you need and space to write any personal contacts. Keep it by your phone at home, or take it with you, if you are out and about.

• Carers Emergency Alert Card

This is a great scheme that helps you develop a plan for what might happen if you had an emergency yourself and were unable to carry out your normal caring responsibilities. When you register the plan will be agreed, giving details of family, friends or local organisations who can take over from you in an emergency.

You will be given a card which has the Carecall telephone number and your own ID number to identify your personal emergency action plan. If you are unable to make the call to action your plan, someone coming to your aid will be able to do it for you. A second card, containing the same information will be issued to the person you care for, giving you the peace of mind of knowing that whatever happens, your emergency plan to look after them will be put into action.

TOP TIP Store this number in your mobile phone under ICE (In Case of Emergency).

• Message in a bottle

'Message in a Bottle' is an emergency information scheme that could save someone's life! You place a small plastic bottle in your fridge containing details of any other family, friends or local organisations who can take over your caring role in an emergency. Then you put specially designed stickers on your fridge door and on your front door to let people know it's there. This means that should the emergency services need to come to your house they will know exactly where to look for this important information.

Useful contacts

Please note that links to websites will open in a new window.

Signpost Stockport for Young Carers
Address: The Heaton Centre, Thornfield Road, Heaton Moor. Stockport SK4 3LD
Phone: 0161 947 4690
Fax: 0161 947 4699
Web: www.signpostforcarers.org.uk
Email: youngcarers@signpostforcarers.org.uk

Age UK Stockport
Address: Commonweal, 56 Wellington Street, Stockport SK1 3AQ
Phone: 0161 480 1211
Fax: 0161 480 3735
Web: www.ageukstockport.org.uk
Email: admin@ageukstockport.org.uk

Disability Stockport
Address: 23 High Street, Stockport SK1 1EG
Phone: 0161 480 7248
Fax: 0161 474 8290
Web: www.disabilitystockport.org.uk
Email: email@disabilitystockport.org.uk

Making Space
Address: Lyne House, 46 Allen Street, Warrington WA2 7JB
Phone: 01925 571680
Fax: 01925 231402
Web: www.makingspace.co.uk

Message in a Bottle
Address: 21 Rycroft Road, Compstall, Stockport SK6 5JR
Phone: 0161 427 5573
Email: etherow.dave@ntlworld.com