Crunch time for MP's
10 March 2010
Gordon Conochie, Joint Policy and Parliamentary Officer for Crossroads Care and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers writes on his blog about the recent conference for carers:
You cannot change the quality of care in this country without respecting carers and improving the support they receive. This was the simple message delivered to the three political parties at yesterday’s conference on carers. The response we were seeking was what each party would pledge to do for carers in the next Parliament…
Care Services Minister Phil Hope focussed more on what the Government had done in this Parliament to increase support for carers, and there have been improvements: £25m training and employment support for carers; recent £1m investment in young carers’ services; new credit scheme to help carers build up pensions; and a national helpline and website for carers.
But the big moment came when he put himself on the line in response to our report “No Breaks for Carers” on PCTs not supporting carers – “I will personally hold PCTs to account for the carers’ money they will receive but do not spend on carers and will keep going until they do spend the money on carers” (read the full story here).
It’s not often that politicians make a personal pledge like this. Eyes darted around the room to see reactions.
To read the fill blog click here
carersblog.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/crunch-time-for-mps-to-commit-to-carers/
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