Carers Week 2009

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders is supporting Carers Week 2009 which is to  take place from 8 to 14 June, recognising carers as the UK’s Secret Service.

There are over six million people nationally who act as an unpaid carer for a relative or friend who has an illness or disability. An increasing percentage of carers are young people who often do not receive the support they need.

At £53.10 per week for a minimum of 35 hours work (at most £1.50 per hour), the current Carers Allowance provides insufficient compensation for the vital work that carers undertake and fails to acknowledge the billons of pounds that carers save the NHS every year.

A new website and helpline for carers has been launched by the Government (www.nhs.uk/carersdirect, 0808 802 0202). Although welcoming the development, Adrian has also argued that it failed to get to the heart of problem which is the lack of funding within the social care system.

Adrian commented: “Carers play an absolutely vital role within our society but their work is chronically under-recognised and under-funded. Carers Week rightly celebrates the hidden work of carers and highlights the advice and support that are available.

It is essential that the burden placed upon carers is not an overwhelming one and that the sense of isolation which can be experienced is reduced. I am proud to be supporting Carer’s Week and believe that the indispensable work of carers needs to be given the recognition that they so richly deserve.”