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NHS "failing to support carers" - BBC News

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Tue, 13/10/2009 - 6:56am
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NHS 'failing to support carers'

The National Health Service in England is failing to invest in sorely needed services for carers, campaigners say.

 

 

Data uncovered by two charities suggested just £10m of the extra £50m earmarked for support services was being spent this year.

 

The money was promised by the government to help fund services such as respite care and counselling.

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Care said the results of the poll of 130 NHS trusts were alarming.

There are 6m carers in the country, 1.5m of whom spend more than 50 hours a week looking after relatives.


“ Once again, the recognition of carers and their significant contribution is not seen as a priority ” 

Carole Cochrane, of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers

Ministers last year acknowledged the role they were playing when they promised an extra £150m for support services.

But instead of ring-fencing the money, the government merely asked primary care trusts to set aside £50m this financial year and £100m during 2010-11 from the annual increases in the health budget.

To see whether the funds were getting through to the frontline, the two charities, which provide support services to carers, requested spending data under the Freedom of Information Act.

They received responses from 130 of the 152 trusts in England showing that 80% of the funds were not being or were not due to be spent this year.

Carole Cochrane, chief executive at The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, said: "We are alarmed and disappointed at these research findings.

"Once again, the recognition of carers and their significant contribution is not seen as a priority."

And Anne Roberts, chief executive at Crossroads Care, added: "Carers need support.

"Without a break they can often reach crisis point, where their own physical and mental health deteriorates.

"When carers reach this point, trusts will have to provide additional support at additional cost, so failure to provide carers' breaks is short-sighted."

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "The government should be ashamed of its failure to provide the help they promised to carers.

"Many people across the country are in desperate need of this support."

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/8303672.stm

 

Published: 2009/10/12 23:07:57 GMT

 

© BBC MMIX

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