Boost for Local Care: GPs Champion Respite Bed at Charlotte Straker House
We’re thrilled to share that Dr Sally Parkin, a partner at the Corbridge GP surgery, joined us to officially reopen our community respite bed! Senior Care Assistants, Lyndsey Forster and Amy Newell held the ribbon whilst Dr Parkin opened the bed and our residents, trustees and staff celebrated afterwards by enjoying some delicious afternoon treats.
Dr Parkin said “I’m delighted to have been asked to officially reopen this bed. As a local GP, I see many tired and burnt-out family caregivers as well as vulnerable elderly patients who need some extra support. The newly opened bed means that GP surgeries will be able to identify patients and family who might benefit from excellent care at Charlotte Straker House. Affordable respite care is essential, and I’m delighted that our team can signpost patients to this service. It’s not exaggeration to say that this community bed will be a lifeline to many in our local community.”
Berenice Groves, Chair of the Trustees added “Thank you so much to Dr Parkin for officially cutting the ribbon! We know our GPs are focussed on the well-being of their local community, and their support is essential in encouraging patients and their families to take advantage of our respite service. We also know that more than half of unpaid carers in Northumberland are providing over 60 hours of care a week and have not had a break in the last twelve months. We’ve already been inundated with enquiries about respite care so we’re incredibly grateful for Dr. Parkin’s support and to everyone who helped make reopening this respite bed possible.”
Our community respite bed offers short term free of charge respite care to those over 65 years of age from Northumberland. For more information and to book please call 01434 633 999 or visit https://charlottestraker.org.uk/respitebed/
Our free of charge bed offers short term free of charge respite to the elde rly in our community and was shut in 2023 due to the rise in costs after Covid. We have managed to reopen the service due to a generous legacy donation.
The community bed costs our charity over £60,000 each year and is entirely funded by donations and grants and we receive no local authority support. Please help by donating – https://charlottestraker.org.uk/donate/
