NEW MONEY GIVES CARERS A BREAK

The government has allocated new cash to local NHS Primary Care Trusts (PCT) to pay for respite breaks for Carers. Lancashire has around 125,000 carers who need to be taken care of!

I am in contact with the East Lancs PCT concerning the extra funding they received from central government. ‘Carers UK’ estimate that our PCT will be allocated around £1.1 million over 2 years purely to fund respite breaks for carers.

There is concern the local NHS will divert the money to other uses.

The NHS has funded ‘breaks’ for carers for many years, providing what is often a therapeutic service for disabled and chronically ill people. For example, specialist residential therapeutic care for people with advanced MS which helps to improve their condition but also helps carers.

The PCT is working with Lancashire County Council to offer additional support to carers. The new money should be used in a flexible and creative way to make life better for these vital ‘unsung’ heroes.

I am meeting the new Chief Executive of the PCT to discuss the PCT’s approach and to make sure the money goes to carers.

The Commons Public Accounts Select Committee has recently investigated the complex rules that are in place for carers to claim the benefits that are due to them. Britain has 6 million carers but only 900,000 receive allowances, partly because regulations are “unnecessarily complex”.

£2bn a year is given in benefits to carers, while their commitment saves the Treasury around £23bn in health and social work bills.

For more details of Carers Respite Breaks contact ELVSRC on (01282) 704604 or visit www.lancashire.gov.uk and enter ‘respite care’.