Carers need more support

12:31pm Thursday 1st September 2011

By Andy Rutherford – Health correspondent »

THE focus and attention given to the needs of carers by the NHS in Gwent is “patchy and sporadic” and improvements are being planned to meet the demands of new Wales-wide regulations.

The numbers of carers across Gwent runs into the tens of thousands – there are believed to be 15,000 in Newport alone – and more pertinently, there are predicted to be large increases in carers aged 65 and over during the next 20 years.

Elderly carer numbers are expected to rise by almost a third (31 per cent) in Gwent by 2030, though this could vary between 26 per cent (in Newport) and 37 per cent (in Monmouthshire).

Improving information for, and engagement with, carers is the main aim of the Carers’ Strategies (Wales) Measure, which places new responsibilities on health boards to ensure carers’ needs are met.

For four-in-five carers, first contact with a statutory body is with a community-based health service, generally at a health centre, GP surgery or via a home visit.

Aneurin Bevan Health Board has reviewed its services with regard to addressing the needs of carers, and also the needs of patients who rely on a carer.

Among its conclusions is that its training programmes do not address issues such as carer assessment and support, except in the fields of safeguarding, discharge planning, and continuing care.

“A key conclusion… was that the focus and attention given to the needs of carers was patchy and sporadic.

Implementation of the Carers’ Measure requirements within Aneurin Bevan Health Board will require focused awareness raising amongst all staff groups,” concludes a health board report.

Carers’ strategies exist in all five health board localities – Newport, Torfaen, Monmouthshire, Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent – but a health board-wide plan is required.

Carers’ involvement in often complex Continuing Healthcare arrangements for patients must be clarified, and the role of primary care in identifying carers and helping connect them to appropriate services, needs to be enhanced.

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/gwentnews/9228092.Carers_need_more_support/