Carer takes her fight to Westminster
Posted: 29 Oct 2008, 15:37Carer takes her fight to Westminster
Wendy Maxwell is fighting for better support for carers. Photo: Paul Hewitt
KIM BRISCOE
29 October 2008 13:00
A Norwich carer has taken her fight to Westminster in an attempt to get a better deal for carers.
Wendy Maxwell, of Hellesdon, runs the Chill4Us carers' website and travelled to London to speak to the Conservative's shadow health minister Stephen O'Brien.
Mrs Maxwell took with her the stories and comments of members of the national website so the shadow minister could read about the real issues faced by carers every day.
Mrs Maxwell, who is a carer herself, has already met with the Labour and Liberal Democrat health ministers and politicians and says she is pleased to have now lobbied the three main parties about what help is needed for carers.
She said: “We're really pleased that we have been able to speak to all three now.
“We were impressed with Mr O'Brien's ideas and he kindly gave us over an hour of his time to listen to some of the stories about the circumstances carers face daily.
“Our members had also posted their stories and comments on the site and he was genuinely pleased to be given a copy of these and said he would take the time to read them.”
During the meeting, Mr O'Brien set out his plans on how the Tories would propose to help carers.
This includes making planned and emergency respite provision a priority and promoting flexible working options for carers.
They would also like to see carers assessed at the same time as the cared-for so their needs are also taken into consideration, for example with regard to fuel poverty.
Mrs Maxwell was accompanied by Moria Goodey of Norwich Mind, as well as a lobbyist from the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, representatives from Crossroads Caring for Carers and Trevor Ivory, the conservative candidate for North Norfolk.
She said: “I know carers who have to keep the heating on even throughout the summer because the people they care for are so ill and the cost of this for carers needs to be taken into account.”
Another change Mr O'Brien proposed was for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to consider the effects on carers when reviewing the cost-effectiveness of treatments or new drugs and whether these should be available for free on the NHS.
He also wants to ensure doctors spend time in care homes as part of their training and create an NHS board and health watch group to manager and monitor services.
http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/ ... 3A40%3A840
Wendy Maxwell is fighting for better support for carers. Photo: Paul Hewitt
KIM BRISCOE
29 October 2008 13:00
A Norwich carer has taken her fight to Westminster in an attempt to get a better deal for carers.
Wendy Maxwell, of Hellesdon, runs the Chill4Us carers' website and travelled to London to speak to the Conservative's shadow health minister Stephen O'Brien.
Mrs Maxwell took with her the stories and comments of members of the national website so the shadow minister could read about the real issues faced by carers every day.
Mrs Maxwell, who is a carer herself, has already met with the Labour and Liberal Democrat health ministers and politicians and says she is pleased to have now lobbied the three main parties about what help is needed for carers.
She said: “We're really pleased that we have been able to speak to all three now.
“We were impressed with Mr O'Brien's ideas and he kindly gave us over an hour of his time to listen to some of the stories about the circumstances carers face daily.
“Our members had also posted their stories and comments on the site and he was genuinely pleased to be given a copy of these and said he would take the time to read them.”
During the meeting, Mr O'Brien set out his plans on how the Tories would propose to help carers.
This includes making planned and emergency respite provision a priority and promoting flexible working options for carers.
They would also like to see carers assessed at the same time as the cared-for so their needs are also taken into consideration, for example with regard to fuel poverty.
Mrs Maxwell was accompanied by Moria Goodey of Norwich Mind, as well as a lobbyist from the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, representatives from Crossroads Caring for Carers and Trevor Ivory, the conservative candidate for North Norfolk.
She said: “I know carers who have to keep the heating on even throughout the summer because the people they care for are so ill and the cost of this for carers needs to be taken into account.”
Another change Mr O'Brien proposed was for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to consider the effects on carers when reviewing the cost-effectiveness of treatments or new drugs and whether these should be available for free on the NHS.
He also wants to ensure doctors spend time in care homes as part of their training and create an NHS board and health watch group to manager and monitor services.
http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/ ... 3A40%3A840
