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The following Press Release was issued by the UK DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - Press Release 2003/0495 on 5 December 2003

BETTER INFORMATION FOR CARERS

Carers will get better information about vital services thanks to new leaflets published today. Produced by Carers UK and funded by the Department of Health and British Gas, the leaflets provide information to all carers on rights, benefits and breaks in an easy to use format.

Welcoming the new leaflets, Health Minister, Stephen Ladyman, said:

"We know that carers need to be able to access information easily through a variety of routes. This information needs to reach carers in all parts of society including those people who in the past have experienced particular difficulties in finding appropriate information. Reaching hidden carers continues to be a real concern."

"This is why we have supported Carers UK in the development of these new leaflets to ensure that more of the people who care for others will be aware of their rights and entitlements. The leaflets are included in information packs, which will provide carers with key telephone numbers and advice. They are available through a hotline, by post and online at www.carersonline.org.uk"

"We know that it is vital to give carers the information to help them make decisions about what support meets their needs and also what opportunities they wish to take. The information must be about what’s available locally for carers and to do this local authorities should work with the voluntary sector, in partnership with carers. Supporting Carers UK in this campaign is a sign of the Government’s continuing commitment to support carers."

Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:

“With over 2 million people becoming carers every year, it is an on-going task to ensure that carers are well informed about their rights and entitlements. Every day our CarersLine takes calls from people who have been caring for several years and have only just realised that they are a carer and might be entitled to support and benefits.”

“Research consistently shows that the earlier a carer gets support, both benefits and services, the less likely they are to have financial problems in the future and ill-health. Given that carers’ support saves the state a staggering £57 billion a year, there is a strong moral and economic argument to ensuring that they are supported. We are delighted that the Department of Health is partnering us on this work.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Since the National Carers Strategy (“Caring about Carers”), which as published in 1999, the Government has undertaken to support carers both in terms of health and social care. We continue to work with voluntary organisations and local authorities to ensure that provision of appropriate and up-to-date information for carers is available in a variety of formats. These include:
   • Carers UK help-line (Carers Line).
   • Carers Online, which aims to ensure that national standards are maintained when providing local information to carers around the country.
   • “Ring Around Carers: Reaching out to hidden carers”, which uses local radio to help people identify themselves as carers and bring them together to discuss their experiences.
   • ‘StartHere’, which is designed to provide accessible touch screen information to both people needing services and carers about a wide range of health and community services.
2. The Government has a dedicated website at www.carers.gov.uk, which was launched in 2000 to provide a central point of information for carers.
3. The Government has undertaken to ensure that carers are aware of their entitlement to benefits under community care law:
• The ‘National Carers Strategy’ highlights the importance of ensuring carers have access to benefits they are entitled to.
• The ‘Fairer Charging Policies for Home Care and other non-residential Social Services’ guidance for local authorities states that individuals should be provided with comprehensive benefits advice at the time of a charge assessment and that councils have a responsibility to seek to maximise the income of users.
4. The new leaflets are available from the Carers UK website at www.carersonline.org.uk
5. This year’s Carers Rights Day has been dedicated to:
• Identifying hidden carers;
• Ensuring carers are aware of their rights; and
• Raising the awareness of the needs of carers.
6. For media enquiries, please contact: Shima Islam, tel: 020 7210 5375 in the UK’s Department of Health Media Centre.
7. For public enquiries, please contact the UK’s Department of Health Public Enquiries Department on tel: 020 7210 4850