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When we provide services, we want to make them easy, useful and reliable. Where services are delivered on the internet, this sometimes involves placing small amounts of information on your device, for example, computer or mobile phone. These include small files known as cookies. They cannot be used to identify you personally. These pieces of information are used to improve services for you through, for example:

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We use the following cookies on our website –

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The suppliers of these services may also set cookies on your device when you visit the pages where we have used this type of content. These are known as ‘third-party’ cookies. Third party cookies are delivered on behalf of their respective organisations and as such they may change their name and purpose from the cookies identified below, this is beyond the control of Dorset HealhCare.

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What are your choices regarding cookies

We will not use cookies to collect personally identifiable information about you.

If you'd like to delete cookies or instruct your web browser to delete or refuse cookies or to opt-out of third-parties collecting any data regarding your interaction on our website, please see information below.

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Alternatively, you may wish to visit www.aboutcookies.org which contains comprehensive information on how to do this on a wide variety of browsers. You will also find details on how to delete cookies from your machine as well as more general information about cookies.

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Gemma, 30yrs old, Weymouth/Portland area

Gemma is a carer for her mum who has mental health issues after suffering abuse years ago that led to Brain damage.

“I gave up a lot to care for my mum but it is an act of kindness that I would do all over again.”

When unmediated, Gemma’s mum could be aggressive and considered a danger to others, she had to fight to take over her mother’s care at home instead of the alternative of her mother going into the care system.

“I single handily took my mum on and fought for her to be allowed back into society. Mum would sometimes be physically violent towards me. When I started receiving support from Steps 2 Wellbeing they gave me a lot of emotional support and helped me over the phone when mum would have ‘a moment’, as we would call it, helping me to see that all of my feelings were normal, the support helped me feel less isolated.”

Gemma’s mum is doing much better now on medication and is leading a fairly normal life. Gemma doesn’t have any other family to help or support her. Unpaid carers like Gemma only get a small amount of money and some respite from caring responsibilities at home.

“In lockdown there is not allot of respite for carers, be respectful and kind as you don’t know what people are going through.”

“I am lucky that we do receive some respite; it is scary at the moment as it is a risk letting someone in the home during lockdown but we have 2x 3 hour hours of respite a week. I use this time to go on walks to the beach, picking up drift wood and shells to do seaside crafting, or I go into another room to read or listen to calming music, things that are comforting and make me happy.”

Gemma heard about Dorset Healthcare’s Steps 2 Wellbeing service through her council key worker, at the end of six free private sessions it was felt she needed some more sessions.

“You might seem alone, but you don’t have to be, ask for help if you need it.”

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Sentinel House, Nuffield Industrial Estate,
Nuffield Road, Poole, BH17 0RB

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