Category Archives: Scotland

We cannot understand why the Government will not strengthen rights of carers when we are so valued

November 26, 2012   Carers, Scotland

Monday 26 November 2012

Carers Need Help

We have been informed that very few, if any, of the proposed amendments to the Self Directed Support Bill in relation to unpaid carers have been moved for Stage 3, with the exception of at least one amendment submitted by Scottish Labour which relates to Section 16 of the Bill.

Section 16 of the Bill would amend section 87 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (concerning local authorities’ powers to charge for services or support) and would allow local authorities to charge for support provided to unpaid carers.
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Carer shares views with politicians

October 13, 2012   Carers, health, Scotland

CARERS from Inverclyde say their concerns are being taken seriously by the Scottish Parliament.

Eric Baxter • Published 13 Oct 2012 14:00

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HELPING CARERS: Christina Boyd and Duncan McNeil MSP at the Carers Parliament.

CARERS from Inverclyde say their concerns are being taken seriously by the Scottish Parliament.

The first ‘Carers Parliament’ took place at Holyrood attended by carers from Shetland to Dumfries.

Greenock carer Christina Boyd said ministers, MSPs, senior doctors and heads of social work all listened to the challenges that are faced by carers who also outlined the changes needed to improve their lives and the lives of those they care for.

Ms Boyd said: “The Carers Parliament shows that issues facing Scottish carers are being taken seriously and it gave us a chance to tell the people at the top what really matters.

“We often feel ignored and think that politicians and professionals make decisions without considering our point of view.”

She added: “I hope the Carers Parliament will help to change all that.

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‘there are times I could just run out the door’

October 5, 2012   Carers, cerebral palsy, family, Scotland

As told to Joan McFadden Susan Love, a nurse, lives in Paisley with her husband Willie and 19-year-old son Owen, who has cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus. Here, she tells Owen about the love – and the guilt – she feels for him

You’ve always been a bit of a surprise to me, right from the moment I found out I was 26 weeks pregnant at the age of 19.

My first reaction was ‘My mum is going to kill me’ and she wasn’t jumping for joy when I told her. I was in a steady relationship and training to be a nurse but everyone in my class had been warned that if anything stopped us sitting exams we’d have to start from the beginning. There had been an outbreak of sickness in my ward so when I started feeling ill my GP thought I’d picked it up from my patients. I was still suffering from terrible tiredness two weeks later so I went back and saw a locum. I quite like a bit of drama but I wasn’t prepared in the slightest when the nurse came bounding through the door and said: ‘You’re pregnant!’
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