Silence from 3 Leaders on carers benefits

Carer Watch had submitted a question for last nights’ Leaders debates regarding the political Parties’ intentions regarding Carers Allowance.Unfortunately it was not one of the few questions chosen that were aired.

Question submitted

Having had Welfare Reform papers and now those for Social Care,the most glaringly obvious omission in both, is the lack of direct financial support and funding, for the family carers who are unable to continue in, or take up employment due to the amount of care they are required to provide. Future funding for care cannot and must not be looked at in isolation away from these carers. They provide the strong foundation that all else must build from. Until all parties recognise that as fact, their policies will always be weak and unsustainable

So would all Leaders declare once and for all their intentions regarding Carers Allowance.
Will they give a definite timetable to address the issues therein.
Will the benefit actually continue to exist or is further benefit reform being planned?

Using the recession as an excuse not to take action is not acceptable, as even in the boom years,nothing was done.

Last but not least, would all Leaders refrain from using the phrase “unsung heroes”.Most carers find it offensive.

The silence from all parties is deafening

Guest blog – Benefits and Work

Carer Watch would like to thank Steve at Benefits and Work for inviting us to be a guest on their blog site.

The article we submitted can be read here . Please add your own comments too.

BBC – Leader debates – Questions re : ESA

People facing a diagnosis of a severe and enduring illness face many challenges. They achieve their goals best when the community supports them to stay as well as they can. Threats, anxiety and pressure is no help to them at all. This isn’t rocket science – it is basic humanity. Under the new ESA rules the CAB reports that very sick people are being called in and harassed daily and it has to stop.

People with severe and enduring illness should be given a passport to the ESA ‘support’ group where they can receive back to work help without threat and fear of sanctions

Given that the Welfare Reform Bills were the most radical changes of the last parliament the silence on this issue is deafening. We would like to see Welfare Reform raised in the last leaders debate.

So please e-mail the BBC and help us get a question on Welfare Reform included.

Support for Carer Watch campaign from PPCs can be found here

BBC report -Llanelli march over Carmarthenshire care homes threat

Over 100 Campaigners fighting to save six care homes in Carmarthenshire have marched through Llanelli.

Carer Watch response to White Paper Social Care

Carer Watch acknowledges the White Paper on Social Care, “Building a National Care Service”, for the importance it places on vital issues that will affect our society as a whole. Whilst elements of the paper hold true, we believe the starting point to be incorrect. Any proposal suggested to date, if implemented, would not be sustainable long term, without the strong foundation that family carers provide. They are the base that any new National Care Service must build upon. Both the NHS and Social Services rely heavily upon families shouldering the main burden of care now, and will do even more so in the future.

The most glaringly obvious omission in the White Paper is the ……..  read in full  here

Motor Neurone disease – One familys’ story

Recently Carer Watch received an invite from Helen Findlay to the Sir William Beveridge event  “Funding Social Care – Getting it Right for the Next Generation” . Afterwards we exchanged emails and as a result Helen shared some of her familys’ story.

 I am a member of the Service User Advisory Group at the National Council for Palliative Care which I have been involved with for about two and a half years. It’s a voluntary role and I attend meetings and seminars that they organise; I have also spoken at a number of
their events and other conferences aimed at health care professionals
including those working in primary care.

The catalyst for me pursuing this line of activity is primarily because of
what happened to my father after he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) which happened in the autumn of 2005. From diagnosis to when he died was just seven weeks – the most dreadful seven weeks for him, me, my siblings and my mother. The disease was bad enough – watching him wither away so quickly and all of us trying desperately to help and support him in the face of very bad attitudes and practices from health and social care professionals made it even worse.

Norman Lamb

Before making a response to the announcement yesterday from the LibDebs re : guaranteed breaks for carers,Carer Watch have been corresponding with Norman Lamb. The Shadow Minister has agreed to look over questions we have gathered from CW members and others from the online community. We will keep you informed of his response.

Update April 2nd 2010….answers received from Norman Lamb.

Questions from online carers