In Case of Emergency (ICE)

What Would You Do In an Emergency?

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you were involved in an accident or suddenly taken ill and could not continue your caring role? Who would step in and help out? Who would know you were caring for someone?

Carers Bucks has launched its new service - In Case of Emergency (ICE) – to all Carers in Buckinghamshire. ICE aims to give Carers peace of mind by providing a backup service which will be put into place if you cannot provide care because of an emergency. The service is run as part of our contract with Bucks County Council.

How does the service work?

Carers who are interested in joining ICE complete an emergency care plan, with help from our ICE Support Worker. The plan holds details of the person being cared for, their disability/illness, the assistance they may need, their medication, together with the details of up to four people who could act as replacement Carers. Even if you do not have anyone who can step in and help you can still complete a plan.

The plan is held by Carers Bucks who provide a 24 hour telephone service 365 days of the year. Each Carer is given a card which has details of the ICE emergency number and a unique reference number which links the Carer to their emergency care plan – this avoids any personal details appearing on the card.

What Happens if I have an Emergency?

You, or someone with you, would call the ICE emergency number. The person answering the phone would look up your details and activate the care plan by contacting the first person you have nominated as your replacement Carer. If they were unable to help then the second would be contacted, and so on. In the unlikely event of no-one being able to help we would contact the most appropriate agency or service. Under no circumstances would the person you care for be left alone to fend for themselves.

What Happens to the Information?

All information given to us is treated confidentially. However, with your consent, emergency care plans may be shared with others eg your GP or care provider in order to provide the best possible support for you and the person for whom you care.

Who Should I Nominate as my Replacement Carers?

You can nominate a friend or a neighbour or a member of the family. However, you must check that they are happy to be replacement Carers before giving us their details.

This service is free to all Carers in Buckinghamshire. For more details contact Ash Khan on 01296 392711 or email ash.khan@carersbucks.orgor Pam Bird on 01494 463536, email pam.bird@carersbucks.org

If you would like to see a copy of the emergency care plan click here. However we would advise you to speak to Ash or Pam before attempting to complete the plan.

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