Emergency Card Scheme
The Emergency Card Scheme is available to all carers over the age of 18.
Do you worry about what would happen to your cared for (dependant), whether an adult or child, if you were taken seriously ill or had an accident? If so, the Emergency Card Scheme can offer you peace of mind.
What is an Emergency Card?
The Emergency Card Scheme is run jointly between Swindon Borough Council (SBC), Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (BSW CCG) and Swindon Carers Centre (SCC), who administer the scheme.
If an emergency should occur and you have a carers Emergency Card, plans can be put into place quickly to support the adult/child you care for. With help from our dedicated scheme administrator at Swindon Carers Centre you develop your own robust comprehensive Emergency Card plan.
The plan has information about you and the adult/child you care for and what you would want to happen if an emergency prevented you from carrying on with your caring responsibilities. This can include details of emergency contacts.
This emergency plan will be completed with us and then shared and held securely online with Swindon Borough Council.
You will be issued with a red card, similar to a credit card, which has a unique number linking to your emergency plan and the two telephone numbers giving you 24-hour support in an emergency.
In an emergency, anyone finding the card can call the number on the card and quote your unique number. The call handlers would then ensure your emergency plan is put in place.
How do I join the Emergency Card Scheme?
Once you are registered with Swindon Carers Centre, you can ask to join the scheme. The scheme administrator at SCC will then send you a registration form. You need to give us as much detailed information about the person you care for as possible and once returned to us the administrator will then contact you if any further information is required.
Once the plan is complete, a copy will be sent to Swindon Borough Council and to you for information along with your Emergency Card.
NOTE: IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM US OF ANY CHANGES TO YOUR EMERGENCY CARD PLAN. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN YOUR PLAN BEING VOID OR NOT BEING ACCURATE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.
If the adult/child you care for has complex care needs, or you don’t have anyone who can be an emergency contact and can take over your caring role, don’t worry, our scheme administrator can help you to develop an emergency plan to accommodate this.
To request an Emergency Card Scheme application form, you must first be registered with us.
If you are already registered, please contact Swindon Carers Centre and we will arrange a form to be sent to you.