The Welsh Government has launched My Winter Health Plan, a scheme to help people with long-term physical or mental health conditions and their carers to provide clear information to health and care staff who may need to visit their home in an emergency.
My Winter Health Plan
This initiative aims to help people with long-term health conditions and their carers. My Winter Health Plan will share some basic information with health and care staff making a home visit about:
- Their condition
- The support they receive
- The advice they have been given
- Their key health and care support contact details
Who is the scheme for?
It is designed to help:
- Anyone living with a long term physical or mental health problem
- Older people with health needs
- Anyone who may need support from health staff
- Registered carers and family members looking after people with long-term health conditions
How does it work?
You, a friend or family member, or your carer (if you have one), will need to complete the Plan to give basic information about you, including:
- Your main health conditions
- Contact details for your GP
- Where your care plan and/or details of your prescriptions are kept at home
What do you need to do?
- Download the My Winter Health Plan template here.
- Complete the plan in CAPITAL LETTERS using a ballpoint pen, making sure it is clear and easy to read. If you are currently under the care of any community health staff, they can help you to fill it in at your next home visit.
- Display your plan where it can be easily seen by visiting health and care staff – you might want to use a fridge magnet to put the plan on your fridge or another metal surface, or put it on a notice board.
- If you become ill and a doctor, nurse or paramedic visits your home, they will be able to see some basic information about you and your long-term health conditions. This will help them to start a conversation with you about the care and treatment you might need, and make decisions about how best to help or support you.
- If there are other people in your household who may benefit from the scheme, each person should fill in a separate plan and mark it clearly, e.g. with Mr, Mrs or their first name, to show which plan belongs to who.
Alternatively, if you don’t have access to a printer to download a Winter Health Plan, you can email SixGoals.UrgentAndEmergencyCare@gov.wales for a pack to be sent to you by post.
