Is it time to create a new nurse role dedicated to helping carers?

Informal carers play a vital role in enabling people with ongoing support needs to be cared for at home, but this has a negative impact on carers' own health and wellbeing. Although community nurses are well placed to identify and support carers, falling numbers of district nurses and the increasing needs of an ageing population mean they have limited time and so focus on patients. This article proposes the creation of a 'carer support nurse' role entirely dedicated to supporting carers.