‘Hidden Heroes’ Miss Out On £25m

The “hidden heroes” who provide unpaid care for loved ones in Scotland have reacted with dismay to news that a £25m deal to provide short-term respite for carers would apply only in England and Wales. The New Deal for Carers was announced by Gordon Brown, the Chancellor.

{mosimage}It also held out the prospect of full pensions rights for the legions who give up work to provide unpaid care for elderly and disabled friends and relatives. Workers must pay National Insurance Contributions to qualify for the state pension, but they lose the entitlement when they give up work. Ministers have already announced that those who provide at least 20 hours of care per week receive a credit towards their Contributions.

Mr Brown said yesterday: “Every one of the carers I have met is an inspiration and refutes a widespread cynicism that in today’s society, selfishness matters more than service to others. Having listened to their stories and the challenges they face, I know we must and will do more in the years to come to help.”

However, while the prospect of full pensions rights applies to Scotland, the extra £25m does not because it is “an issue reserved for Westminster”. Similar investment is urgently required for carer services in Scotland.

Patrick Begley, Carers Scotland director, said the additional funding was some recognition of the £57bn which is saved by Britain, £5bn of that figure in Scotland. He said: “However, this welcome is tempered by disappointment that the additional funding will, in the main, be for England and Wales.

“We are asking that the Scottish Executive makes similar provision, particularly for respite carers. We are campaigning, with other carer organisations, to ensure full implementation of the recommendations of the Care 21 Report, which set out a national agenda for improving services and supports for carers in Scotland over the next 10 years.

“Finally, to ensure that adequate funding is made available, we are campaigning for a better deal for carers by demanding that the Care 21 recommendations are part of a revised Carers Strategy with an agreed timetable for implementation.”

However, he welcomed the pensions move. Mr Begley added: “We are particularly pleased that the issue of carers’ pensions, which we have campaigned on for so many years, is to be reviewed. This should ensure that carers will not be disadvantaged and left in poverty.”

Admitting to equal “disappointment”, Ruth Clark, assistant director Scotland of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, said: “There is substantial evidence from recent research that similar investment is urgently required for carer services in Scotland.”

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said the new carer support announcement was an issue reserved for Westminster. “Here in Scotland, our response to the Care 21 report, which was launched last April, sets out a long-term agenda for change over 10 years so that we can deliver even better outcomes for Scotland’s 600,000 carers,” the spokeswoman said.

“Our response welcomed the Care 21 report and set out actions on almost all of its 22 recommendations and identified four key areas for priority action – respite, young carers, carers’ health and carer training. Supporting carers is not only the right thing to do but is also an investment in patient/carer health, helping to reduce health inequality.

“Supporting carers to cope better can save significant resources across the health and social care system. Investments in services to support carers have risen from £5m in 1999 to £23m.”