Devon County Council in its report 'Support For Carers : A review by the Health & Adults Services Scrutiny Committee' highlighted Clyst Caring Friends as an example of best practice. The report states Clyst Caring Friends is a registered charity based at Pinhoe Surgery in Exeter offering a befriending service, a daycentre at the surgery's second site in Broadclyst, a carer support group, social lunches and drop-in sessions at the Pinhoe site.
The six GPs based at the surgery refer carers to Clyst Caring Friends after they had sought the carer's informed consent. Clyst Caring Friends in turn undertook to keep patients' details confidential. GPs at Pinhoe Surgery showed initiative, e.g. carers were specifically marked on the surgery's IT system and were given priority for appointment bookings.
Clyst Caring Friends was also involved in core group meetings once a month which involve GPs, social workers, occupational therapists, district nurses, etc to discuss individual patients and their carers using a coordinated approach. A significant number of carers did not readily recognise themselves as carers and many were isolated unmotivated or depressed. Clyst Caring Friends could then access these individuals and their contact details via the GP or the core team. Alternatively, the charity could also raise points about individuals with the health professionals.