Sandra Gidley MP Welcomes New Support for Carers

12.00.00am GMT Thu 1st Mar 2007

Sandra Gidley MP for Romsey has given a cautious welcome to the Government's recent announcement on a country-wide consultation and new measures to improve support and services for carers.

There are over 737,000 carers in the South East providing unpaid care, looking after an ill, frail or disabled family member, friend or partner.

Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, announced the launch of a country-wide consultation with carers and voluntary organisations to update the 1999 Carers Strategy. Ivan Lewis, Minister for Care Services, is making available £33m in an initiative known as the New Deal for Carers.

Under the new deal for carers, local authorities in England will be allocated a share of £25 million to provide emergency support. A further £3 million will be spent on a national advice and information service, and £5 million will be spent on a training programme for carers.

Sandra Gidley said,

"The Government has rightly recognised the contribution that carers make to society and has allocated additional funding to support them.

"Hampshire County Council will receive nearly £ 0.5 million [£ 448,000] to provide emergency support, which will give carers peace of mind and ensure that they look after their own health and well-being. Southampton Metropolitan and Isle of Wight authorities will receive £109,000 and £75,000 respectively.

"Whilst this money is welcome it is the equivalent of the little Dutch boy who stuck his finger in the dyke. This money will only help the really acute situations and what is needed is a wholesale review of respite provision. If carers can guarantee receiving regular respite care then they will be able to continue with their caring responsibilities for longer. It is as simple as that.

"The nationwide consultation on the new Carers Strategy will ensure that carers' voices are heard at the heart of Government but I will be disappointed if this is a listening exercise that does not result in action and does not recognise the invaluable role that carers play in our society."

Notes to Editor

1. The New Deal for Carers is an updated and extended package of reforms. It pledges measures to support carers. They are:

i) Advice and information service to be set up and possibly run by a voluntary sector organisation to provide "reliable, detailed information" to help carers make decisions about the personal support and opportunities open to them, and the needs of the person for whom they are caring.

ii) Emergency support to be established in each local authority area providing short term, home-based, respite for carers in crisis or emergency situations

iii) Expert Carers programme - This will be aimed at providing training for carers to better self manage their own health and the health of those for whom they are caring.

2. The first National Strategy for Carers was launched by the Prime Minister in 1999 and led to many changes which have improved carers' lives, such as the rise in Carer Premium and the introduction of the Carers Grant to fund breaks for carers. It also laid the foundations for better pensions for carers and the new right to request flexible working which comes into force this April 2007.

3. New research: Carers UK carried out a survey of carers in December 2006 and January 2007. Carers UK received 2,950 completed online and paper questionnaires sent across the UK. When asked which issue was most important to them, carers cited the following priorities:

1. Recognition from professionals 20%

2. Income from benefits for the under 65s 16%

3. Better services for disabled/older/chronically ill 15%

people

4. Income in retirement 13%

5. Carers' health 11%

6. Breaks 9%