by wendy » 01 May 2008, 09:47
I know you are dying to know how the meeting went so I will try my best, but please anyone that was there please will you add your reports.
Thank you to everyone for trying so hard to improve things for carers.
Firstly can I thank Mr Lewis and his staff for arranging the meeting.
We were told we would have half an hour and it went well over the hour.
Thank you to Rosie Sandall and the photographer for coming with us and reporting on the meeting.
We were taken to a room where we had tea in china cups and saucers and we got to know one another. Then we were taken into Mr Lewis office where we sat around the big table.
I started out with my concerns for carers living in rural areas. I explained about the isolation and lack of help, I explained we had tried to get computers for carers but it came to nothing. I asked when will we be getting the free 24 hour helpline that is promised.
The answer is not until at least the middle of next year.
I then explained about one of our members whose husband died and she received a letter from the DWP within a fortnight of his death, saying we are sorry to hear about your change of circumstances but we need to see you to get back to work.
I then passed this over to Rosie because she had visited the lady the previous day. Every one was appalled to hear about the way this lady, who is ill herself, has been treated. The minister is going to look into the way the DWP deal with carers after a loss of a loved one and he is going to make changes.
Moira mentioned about the lack of places for respite in Norfolk for people with a mental health problem. She spoke about carers still not getting carers assessments or carer support workers.
Moira spoke about the ringing of services for carers has been stopped. He had no answer for this. (this means that councils can spend money which was meant for carers on other services).
Moria mentioned about the 10p tax and I said there was an EDM started, which Mr Lewis knew about. He said the whole situation for carers was being looked at regarding carers having to work and pay tax.
Pam said that carers need more money and more money for services and respite. She said she did not want to have to rely on charity for help.
Pam asked why can't respite care be paid for a family member to care in their own home, different from where the cared for usually lives.
Rachel spoke about SS buying out blocks of respite places so when someone tried to arrange respite individually, the places would all be taken. Rachel had done a great deal of research into this from around the country, so she was well armed with statistics.
The New Carers Strategy will be coming out in the summer.- not in Carers week. This will be for carers for the next 10 years. We were invited to go to the launch.
We all thought it was a most successful meeting.
Everyone said much more than I have written, but this is all that I can remember at the moment. Help please, please.
Last edited by
wendy on 26 Sep 2009, 16:11, edited 1 time in total.