Local carers urged to claim free health checks at Lloydspharmacies during Carers Week

Labour MP John Denham has welcomed an offer of free health checks for local people who care unpaid for ill, frail or disabled friends or family members during this year’s Carers Week.

Lloydspharmacy has teamed up with charity Carers UK to offer free heart health checks (normally worth £15) to carers from 8^th-14^th June. The checks include cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes checks and are available from 650 Lloydspharmacies across the UK including those in St Mary’s, Woolston and Bitterne.

There are 8564 carers in John Denham’s Southampton Itchen constituency, 11% of whom are in poor health.

John Denham said: “The unpaid care provided to friends and family by carers makes such an important contribution to our society and local communities - we have got to make sure their own health doesn’t suffer as a result. Practical initiatives like this partnership between our local Lloydspharmacy and Carers UK will help carers to look after themselves, and I would urge carers to take up this excellent opportunity to have their health checked.”

Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK said: “Carers with the heaviest caring responsibilities are twice as likely to suffer ill health as the general public. Too often carers suffering from stress, isolation and exhaustion are unable to find time to get checkups and end up ignoring their own health problems to continue to care. This offer will allow carers to get their health checked there and then, when they pop into their local Lloydspharmacy.”

Andy Murdock, Pharmacy Relations & Governance Director at Lloydspharmacy, said: "We're very pleased to be supporting the work of Carers UK as carers represent a large proportion of the people who use our pharmacies. The survey findings regarding the health of carers are alarming. By making it easier for carers to consider their own health we hope to go someway to improving their overall well being."

Former GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips, who stepped down from GMTV to care for her children and elderly father said: “The isolation, exhaustion and stress that too often come with caring for friends or family can put carers’ own health at risk. It is so important that carers don’t forget to look after themselves and that is why I welcome the work Lloydspharmacy are doing in partnership with Carers UK, to enable carers to get free health check-ups at their local pharmacies.”

The free checks are only available during Carers Week to carers with health check vouchers, which can be ordered by emailing charity@lloydspharmacy.co.uk