Category Archives: Carers

CQC: Hunt urges calls for serious action if cover-up proved

June 22, 2013   Carers, health, hospital

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said there should be “very, very serious consequences” for anyone found guilty of a cover-up at the Care Quality Commission.

He said he would support disciplinary action if allegations against individuals are proved.
Mr Hunt said the healthcare regulator for England was “fundamentally flawed” when it was set up four years ago.
But he backed the new management team now running the CQC.
However, Amanda Pollard, a former CQC inspector who left after she became disillusioned, warns there may be more scandals ahead.

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Home carers save the county £164m

June 21, 2013   Carers

Redditch home carers are wonderful

By Ian Dipple Friday 21 June 2013 Updated: 21/06 07:53

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THE BOROUGH’s growing army of unpaid carers are saving the county’s social care sector an estimated £164million a year but are being left to struggle with little or no support or financial help.

According to expert analysis the 8,889 people across the borough caring for a loved one save the public purse an average of £18,473 a year each in care which would otherwise have to be provided by the state at a cost of £18 an hour.

More than 2,000 of those are providing over 50 hours of unpaid care a week.

Figures from the 2011 census show in the last ten years the number of unpaid carers in the borough has grown by over 1,000 but charities warn the actual figure is likely to be much higher as many people do not class themselves as carers and consider caring for a loved one just part of their family duty.

The biggest increase is in the number of people aged 65 and over now classing themselves as carers which has grown by 60 per cent since 2001 to 1,762 – reflecting the borough’s ageing population and increase in conditions such as dementia.

But in return for their contribution the amount available in carer’s allowance is just £59.75 a week – or £3,107 a year – and it is only available to people aged 16 and over and who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for their loved one.

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Plight of carers highlighted by MP

June 20, 2013   Carers, ukcuts

Carers must not be seen as an economic burden with the Government ensuring they receive greater flexibility at work, a former health minister has urged.

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Carers must not be seen as an economic burden, Paul Burstow said

Liberal Democrat Paul Burstow said aside from the physical and emotion toll carers experience, reports suggest three million people try to balance caring responsibilities with paid work.

And Mr Burstow said studies also highlighted 2.3 million have given up work to care for someone leading to the UK economy losing £1.3 billion a year from tax revenues and benefits.

The figure devised by the London School of Economics rises to £5.3 billion a year when lost earnings are also taken into consideration.

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