HEALTH professionals in the region are celebrating National NHS Week - an event which marks the founding day of the NHS on July 5, 1948.

This year, the event, which runs until Saturday, focuses on engaging with staff and local communities to explain how improvements in services are delivering benefits for patients across the NHS.

Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) has undertaken research and has identified a group of carers who need a more specialised service, the trust revealed today.

The research, funded by City of York Council, has shown that there is a growing need to provide specialist low-level support to young adult carers (18 to 25 year- olds). The work highlighted the fact that young adult carers did not identify with the existing carers' centre service, but as they were over 18 they were too old for, or had grown out of, the young carers service.

The research, conducted through one-to-one interviews with young adult carers, their parents and professionals who work with carers, found that carers aged between 18 and 25 were often having to make many difficult choices, about education, careers and relationships at a crucial time in their lives, while also continuing their caring duties.

Carers' centre manager Dawn O'Rouke said: "The support they told us they need is not like that which is offered to young carers, but one of low-level support which can be accelerated at times of crises, a phone call now and again, and some social events so they can meet other young adult carers."

York and Selby Carers' Centre has begun providing this kind of low-level support to this group of carers in York.

Many young adult carers have also been able to receive bursaries and grants to enable them to buy books and equipment for home study, driving lessons and other sources of help.

The 18 to 25-year-old service has increased by more than 50 per cent over the past 18 months, although many more young adult carers remained "hidden".

Updated: 11:05 Monday, June 30, 2003