Greg Mulholland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2015-10-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to support carers.
Alistair Burt
This Government recognises that our health and care system would not be possible without the invaluable contribution made by the millions of unpaid carers.
That is why we continue to support implementation of the improved rights for carers enshrined in the Care Act 2014. The Department has provided £104 million of funding to local authorities for these rights in 2015/16, which include an extended right to assessment and, for the first time, a duty on local authorities to meet carers’ eligible needs for support.
We have also made an additional £400 million available to the National Health Service between 2011 and 2015 to provide carers with breaks from their caring responsibilities to sustain them in their caring role.
In May 2014, NHS England published its action plan NHS England – Commitment to carers, it includes a series of commitments around eight priorities, which include raising the profile of carers, including young carers.
The Department is also leading on a new National Carers Strategy that will consider evidence around the economic impact of caring as well as also review international and national best practice on what support works best for carers.
