GP surgeries from across Wiltshire have been honoured at a ceremony in Devizes for their work supporting unpaid carers.

Among those receiving a Gold Plus award at the Town Hall were surgeries from Devizes, Calne, Pewsey, Box, Chippenham and Royal Wootton Bassett.

It means they have all gone the extra mile to help carers over a number of years to receive the award given by Carer Support Wiltshire which is backed by Wiltshire Council and the NHS Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

A spokesman said: "To achieve a gold award, practices needs to meet more than a dozen requirements, including; maintaining an up-to-date carer’s register, have a carer’s lead, provide flexible appointments for carers and hold a minimum of one carer’s clinic per year. Twenty two practices were awarded a Gold Plus award for their ongoing gold standard commitment to carers."

Gwen Brocksom, 82, who cares for her husband, Ken, was full of praise for the help she has received via Carer Support Wiltshire. She said: "I was finding it difficult to get out and felt quite low.

"I was referred to one of the carer clinics where I met Julian, a support worker at Carer Support Wiltshire. Julian was lovely and full of information. He referred me to adult social care services to see if I could get more support caring for my husband.”

Organisers say that since the start of the Investor in Carers scheme there has been improved identification of previously unknown carers, including young carers, with GPs being the main source of these referrals.

Because of surgery carer health checks, 624 carers were seen at clinics in the last twelve months with 134 being referred for a follow on health appointment because of a health concern identified at the appointment. Health issues identified include high BMI, diabetes, depression, substance misuse and back pain.

The surgeries in the Gazette area receiving gold plus awards last Wednesday (13) were: Beversbrook Medical Centrer, Calne; Box Surgery; Lansdowne Surgery, Devizes; Northlands Surgery, Calne; Pewsey Surgery; The Lodge Surgery, Chippenham; Tinkers Lane Surgery, Royal Wootton Bassett.