This formed part of the NSF Mental Health

"The Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995 gives people who provide "substantial care on a regular basis" the right to request an assessment from social services. But the implementation of this Act is patchy. Assessments are not always carried out. Some carers are offered very sensitive, practical and emotional support. But others receive little, or no help."

Standard six

All individuals who provide regular and substantial care for a person on CPA should:

• have an assessment of their caring, physical and mental health needs, repeated on at least an annual basis
• have their own written care plan, which is given to them and implemented in discussion with them.
  

The same sort of service should be made available to carers of patients with chronic physical illness.