Labour announce new measures to support carers

Labour have announced new plays to help support unpaid family carers.

There are currently around 5.4 million people who act as carers for a member of their family, known as family carers. Today Liz Kendall, will lay out a plan to help support these individuals.

Alongside measures already announced, such as the abolition of the Bedroom Tax, which affects 60,000 carers, Kendall will say that Labour would introduce a new duty on the NHS to identify family carers. This will help them get the right support, and include introducing a right for family carers to ask for an annual health check.

In an effort to reduce bureaucracy and confusion, Labour would also ensure that family carers have one, clear point of contact for care services.

In terms of the finances, Kendall is to say they will: make sure funding for family carers is properly ring-fenced; help to reduce transport costs through measures such as making family carers eligible for hospital parking concessions; and, work in partnership with employers, trade unions and carers organisations to give family carers more flexible working hours.

Kendall explained why Labour was set on making these changes for family carers:

“Family life is changing and more and more of us are looking after elderly or disabled relatives. This can often be a real struggle and many families feel pushed to breaking point.

“Too often carers have to battle all the different services to try and get the support they need. One in three family carers who are in paid work have to give up their job or reduce their hours because they can’t get the right help to care or flexible working hours.

“Most unpaid carers don’t have enough time to pay attention to their own health, and many don’t come forward for help or get any breaks. Often people don’t even see themselves as being a carer – they’re just a son, daughter, husband, wife or partner trying to look after the person they love.

“It’s not right that people who do so much get so little in return. We need to improve support for families, and Labour’s package of measures will make a real and practical difference to their lives.”