'Right Care, Right Deal' Campaign Responds To DWP Committee Carers Report, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 01 Sep 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Commenting on the publication of the Department for Work & Pensions Parliamentary Select committee entitled 'Valuing and Suporting Carers', the Right care, Right deal campaign comments:

Paul Cann, Director of Policy & External Relations at Help the Aged said: "The committee's excellent report lays bare the extent to which carers struggle to access the support they need while carrying out one of the most valuable jobs in our society. Carers save our health and social care systems billions of pounds and they deserve a better deal in return.

"The committee rightly highlights the need for reform of the social care system to improve support for older and disabled people and their carers.

"The Right Care Right Deal campaign wants to see an integrated system of care and support which is fit for the 21st century. As the committee acknowledges - there is a growing funding gap in our care system - and the Government must not shy away from filling it."

Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK said: "We welcome the Committee's acknowledgement that carers' benefits are outdated and need urgent and radical reform. This cross-party report, informed by expert evidence, backs up what carers have been telling us. We argued for improvements to benefits as part of the Government's Carers Strategy and were bitterly disappointed when none were included.

"As well as being insultingly low at just £50.55 per week, Carer's Allowance does not recognise carers' individual circumstances and discourages them from combining caring with paid work.

"The two-tier benefit recommended by the Committee would be a major improvement to the current system. Carers need a separate benefit which recognises that they are not unemployed but are making an important contribution to society.

"Government has promised a review of benefits but the message from carers is clear: we can't wait. Many carers are living in poverty and rising food and fuel prices are hitting them hard. Their unpaid contribution to society is worth £87 billion each year, yet Carer's Allowance is just £50.55 per week. Carers deserve better and need change now."

Stephen Burke, Chief Executive of Counsel & Care comments: "This report is an important contribution to the development of a new vision for social care which includes carers as equal partners in the health and social care system. We are pleased that the government is committed to better access to information and advice for carers. However, this needs to be linked with effective and accessible advocacy services to ensure that information services are truly holistic.

"Too many carers have to give up work because of their caring responsibilities. We are delighted that the select committee has recognized the potential of care vouchers and we look forward to working with the Government and the DWP to implement the committee's recommendation.

"More and more of us will be carers in the future. The current consultation on the future funding of care and next year's green paper must be ambitious and lead to greater support for carers."

Notes

Right care, Right deal is the new national campaign launched to build public awareness and support for the need for brave and innovative solutions for the social care system. With the Government indicating that social care is an urgent political priority, and in advance of the expected green paper later in 2008, the campaign combines three of the UK's largest charities working with and for older people and their families and carers, and will urge the government to renew its vision for the future of social care in England. Visit http://www.rightcare.org.uk

The members of the campaign are Help the Aged, Counsel & Care and Carers UK.

Help the Aged and Counsel & care are among the partners who have established the FirstStop advice service. Available initially in London and the South East of England, FirstStop will offer advice on a wide range of topics including care fees and funding care fees, choosing the right care home, social care provision, benefits and rights. Callers to the advice line will first have their enquiry assessed by specially trained advisers. Following assessment, callers may be passed directly to a specialist who can answer more complex questions and help navigate older people and their carers through their care, housing and finance options.

Information is available nationally by visiting http://www.firststopcareadvice.org.uk

The partners within FirstStop are Help the Aged, Counsel & Care, Elderly Accommodation Counsel and NHFA Care Fees Advice Service.

Help the Aged