Carers hit out as lifeline support service is cut by 75 per cent
WEST NORFOLK: Carers hit out as lifeline is cut
Carers say they are saved from depression by a “lifeline” support service which is losing 75 per cent of its funding.
West Norfolk Mind is looking at ways to maintain its carers support service after Norfolk County Council is slashing its budget.
The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) called for carers to be routinely screened for the signs of depression last week.
The charity has seen funding for the carers service go from £60,000 to £15,000. It supports 70 people who are caring for relatives with mental health issues.
Chief executive Eddie West-Burnham is calling on the county to take note of the RCGP’s comments.
He said: “For some carers, our service means everything. Some say they would not be able to carry on without the support.
“If you improve someone’s quality of life, you improve their mental health and then there is less need for the services. We are working to see what we can do to minimise the impact to carer services but the reality is that things are going to have to change.”
“More money should be put into mental health services no less.”
The service provides advice, one-to-one support and a Friday group support session.
One West Norfolk man has been caring for his wife, who suffers from depression and anxiety, for decades.
The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, is covered in scars from attacks by his wife. He said the team provides advice and new friends from the support group.
He said: “How can I support my wife if I can’t cope? The group understands the problems we all go through on a daily basis and we offer support and advice gathered through our experiences.”
The service has been praised by a woman who cares for her daughter. She has a number of mental conditions.
The mother said: “It is bringing me back to life. The group gives me two hours where I can share any problems.
“Most of us would be in the mental health services ourselves if we didn’t have each other.”
The county’s director of integrated commissioning, Catherine Underwood, said Mind’s funding arrangement changed in March with the advent of personal budgets.
She said: “We know these changes have been a lot for care providers to contend with, so we set aside money from our budget to ensure we could make the right kind of support available to help them adjust.
“West Norfolk Mind have applied for some of this funding and were told they had been awarded £10,000 earlier this month, which they will receive shortly.
“The care sector is going through a lot of changes and some of it is challenging, to all of us.
“Voluntary organisations have a vital role to play in the provision of care and support services in Norfolk, so as a council we want the sector to thrive and are doing our very best to support this.”
