NHS Lanarkshire teamed up with Lanarkshire Carers Centre to run a special event for female carers from ethnic minority backgrounds.

The 10 members of the International Women’s Group were given expert advice on “moving and handling” to help them to look after the people they care for.

Translation into Punjabi and Urdu was provided to aid the participants’ understanding.

NHS Lanarkshire manual handling team lead Joe McAdam, who provided the training at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, explained that good moving and handling practice is vital to help avoid injury and accidents.

Joe said: “Poor moving and handling can lead to back pain and musculoskeletal disorders as well as accidents, which can injure the person being moved and the person moving them. It can also cause discomfort and a lack of dignity for the person being moved.

“The training session was for carers who look after family members who have restricted mobility. I showed them how best to handle the person in a variety of situations as well as giving advice on their own musculoskeletal health.”

The class covered walking, assisting someone from a chair to standing, dealing with someone falling to the floor, using a slide sheet to help to move a person and how to move someone in a hoist.

Lanarkshire Carers Centre black and minority ethnic carer support worker Isbah Khan said: “All the group members enjoyed the training and agreed it was very informative and useful.

“To remove barriers and make it accessible for them, translation, transport and lunch were provided.

“The International Women’s Group meets every month to provide mutual support, access to services, information, training and social activities and to relieve isolation and build friendships. Translation is available at all the meetings.”

Lanarkshire Carers Centre provides direct help and support to unpaid family carers across Lanarkshire. For further information please contact Lanarkshire Carers Centre on 01698 428090 or visit the website www.prtlcc.org.uk.