By Phil Coleman

Last updated at 12:00, Monday, 25 July 2011

Hundreds of carers across Cumbria are to benefit from an annual £500,000 fund which will be spent on giving them vital support.

GPs have agreed to invest the cash annually over the next four years in funding support services for the county’s army of carers, whose efforts save the NHS millions.

The announcement has come two years after health chiefs across the country were criticised for hanging on to cash the Government gave to primary care trusts to help ease the load of carers.

Just how the £1.75m Cumbrian carers fund will be spent will be decided by each of the county’s six GP-led locality boards.

They plan to target the support on carers whose work helps to reduce a person’s reliance on hospital and other NHS health services.

The boards will work closely with the county’s five carers’ organisations in Carlisle, Whitehaven, Kendal, Barrow, and Penrith.

Dawn Kenyon, of Carlisle Carers Association, said: “This is extremely good news for carers.

“It will mean GPs are able to refer carers for the help they need – for things such as benefits advice, therapy, and much needed breaks from their role as carers.