Unpaid carers are to be moved up the vaccination list by NHSWI

To ensure that all unpaid carers across the Western Isles are invited to attend appointments, NHS Western Isles is appealing to all unpaid carers to register with their GP, as soon as possible, as unpaid carers.

Unpaid carers include anyone who cares for a friend or family member who, due to old age, physical or mental illness, disability, serious injury, or an addiction, cannot cope without their support.

This does not include paid carers or those who are volunteering.

Caring can mean helping with things like shopping, domestic tasks, emotional assistance and personal care – all of which have been made much more difficult during the coronavirus pandemic.

If you are an unpaid carer and have not yet registered as such with your general practitioner’s practice, please do so as soon as possible so that you are invited for a vaccination appointment over the coming weeks.

You can contact your GP by email or phone to register as an unpaid carer.

All those invited for vaccination should be aware that anyone entering hospitals, or attending a healthcare appointment (e.g. vaccination clinic), individuals’ own face coverings will no longer be permitted.

Clinical masks, which will be provided, must be worn on entry, in communal areas (e.g. corridors, stairways, lifts), and in all clinical areas.

Anyone medically exempt from wearing a mask must present a Scottish Government Exemption Card – other forms of exemption card will not be accepted.