To help ensure family carers receive emotional and practical support they need, Gobowen's Orthopaedic Hospital has set up a drop-in service.

‘Let’s Talk Local’ the drop-in support sessions take place every Thursday afternoon from 1pm until 3pm.

Paula Jones, social care practitioner from Shropshire Council, will be on hand at the weekly sessions and hopes it will be a big help to carers.

She said: “Many people do not identify themselves as being a carer, they see it simply as being part of being a family member, spouse, partner, friend or neighbour.

“It’s important that people recognise that helping to look after someone who could not manage otherwise, is caring, and by identifying themselves as a carer earlier, gives them the opportunity to find out about the support available to them.

“Many informal carers are not aware of what sort of help is there for them and what a huge difference it could make to their lives.”

The sessions are hosted in the main entrance at RJAH, where carers can find out about resources available to them and can identify ways they can be supported within the community.

Assistant director of nursing at the Orthopaedic, Nick Bellinger, said: “We are pleased that Paula is here on a weekly basis, providing carers with the information they need.

“Carers need support and caring for too and this weekly drop-in session will ensure that they are given the assistance they need, as well as the signposting and resources.

“Caring for carers ensures that our patients are cared for too, when they leave us – that’s another reason why this service is so important.”

The drop-in sessions also runs alongside the outreach support sessions, also held at the hospital every Thursday for military personnel, veterans and their families.

For further details about the drop-in sessions for carers contact paula.j.jones@shropshire.gov.uk.

For more information about how the Let’s Talk Local service can support people to maintain their independence and wellbeing in the community visit www.shropshire.gov.uk/lets-talk-local or call First Point of Contact on 0345 678 9044.