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Funding to support Scottish carers |
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Tuesday, 19 February 2008 |
Minister for Public Health Shona Robison today announced new funding to strengthen support services for carers.
Over the next three years, an additional £9m will be provided to NHS
boards across Scotland to support the implementation of Carer
Information Strategies.
Carers aer expected to benefit from greater awareness and recognition
of their role, improved provision of information and available support,
with more access to training to help them cope with their caring role.
NHS staff will also be given training on how to identify unpaid carers
and direct them to local sources of support, and on how to work closely
with carers as key partners in the delivery of care.
Robison said: "It is of great importance that we identify people who
unselfishly give much of their time to care for a loved one and ensure
they are offered the right information, training and ongoing support.
"We currently have an ageing population and because of this many carers
are elderly themselves. We need to ensure that carers do not neglect
their own health and are given care and support themselves when they
need it."
She added: "I would urge all NHS Boards to work with local carer
services, where they exist, to tap into their experience in this area
and prioritise frontline services for carers."
The new £9m funding includes £1m for 2008/09; £3m is planned for 2009/10 and £5m for 2010/11.
Readers have left 3 comments. 1. Funding to support Scottish carers
Geoff Earl, Unregistered Whilst all support is welcomed as a community nurse the greatest need that I come across for my older carers is respite care. There is a severe shortage of respite beds which are vital in allowing older carers to have a break from looking after their loved ones. This is not just a financial issue, the biggest problem has been that care homes who previously provided care have been sold to property developers as house prices continue to rise. 2. Funding to support Scottish carers
Anne McAllister, Unregistered In agreeing with geoff that any funding is welcome I would like to add that respite care for young children is still lacking and even some of the support being offered at home is in need of improvement,
There is also the issue of people with learning/intellectual disabilities now caring for elderly relatives and this needs addressed also 3. Funding to support Scottish carers
Anonymous, Unregistered It is stated that "Carers are expected to benefit from improved provision of information and available support." Will this provision of information include BSL versions and will available support include communication support - BSL/English interpreters, Notetakers, Lipspeakers, DBM - for meetings, appointments, and training sessions. Will financial support be available for ongoing culturally aware and appropriate support for Deaf carers? And as per Geoff's comments, will there be suitable Deaf and Deafblind aware respite services available?
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