Press release: NHS Confederation calls for carers to be equal partners in healthcare

14 Jun 2006

In the past, the NHS has underestimated the benefits of the contribution unpaid carers make to healthcare. However, a new report published today by the NHS Confederation at its annual conference, signals a change in trend.

There are over six million carers in the UK. Over one million carers work more than 50 hours a week caring for a friend, neighbour or family member- a number that is fast approaching in scale the 1.3 million staff employed by the NHS. Carers UK estimate that carers save the UK economy £57 billion every year.

Carers: Equal Partners - published in association with Carers UK, Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Caring for Carers - shows a positive shift in direction in how the NHS and unpaid carers can work together to not only benefit patients, but also better support the carer.

Jo Webber, Deputy Policy Director at the NHS Confederation, which represents more than 90 per cent of NHS organisations, said:

"Carers are the backbone of health and social care and should be recognised as equal partners by the NHS.
"In the past, the benefits that carers make to healthcare have not been widely acknowledged. But this trend is changing. Through working with carers' organisations and individual carers in the community we are taking steps towards giving carers the recognition they deserve.

"There has been a drive from Government to ensure that carers' needs are recognised by the health community. There was much emphasis on supporting carers in the recently published White Paper on out of hospital care.

"The implementation of the White Paper's recommendations coupled with more local joint partnerships mean that we are on the way to carers being recognised as equal partners by the NHS."

However, there is still a lot more to do in building the relationships between the NHS and the six million carers in the UK. The NHS Confederation is today calling for:

• carers to be more involved in the planning of care services
• carers needs to be fully assessed, and more importantly, acted upon
• information to be improved to help carers navigate the healthcare system so they can get what they need out of it.

Shan Nicholas, Chief Executive of the Princess Royal Trusts for Carers, said:

"Numerous studies, including the recent survey released by Carers Week, demonstrate that the pressures of caring have a direct impact on carers' health. We welcome our partnership with the NHS Confederation to place carers' issues on the agenda and the drive to recognise their role as equal partners in care. 

"It is only by working together for better outcomes for carers that the vision outlined in the White Paper has a chance of becoming a reality."

Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK said:

"NHS staff are critical to the lives of carers in helping reduce health inequalities and the very obvious stresses and strains that are caused by their caring responsibilities. 

"Without NHS support, carers quickly suffer ill-health, poverty through ill-health and lack of knowledge about benefits, poor support in the home and lasting social exclusion. 

"Carers UK has campaigned for years for better recognition for carers and we are delighted that the NHS Confederation is changing its emphasis to better support for carers given that they are the main provider of care - they should be equal partners."

Anne Roberts, Chief Executive of Crossroads Caring for Carers, said:

"I am delighted to endorse the briefing which reinforces the need to ensure that carers receive support. Carers Week, with its theme "in sickness and in health", is an appropriate time to highlight our continuing commitment to work together with the NHS and voluntary organisations to ensure that carers receive appropriate services. Crossroads has over 30 years experience of working together with carers to provide high quality services that meet their needs."

Carers: Equal Partners will be launched at the NHS Confederation annual conference and exhibition today at 12.00pm at a reception hosted by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers to which the Princess Royal will be attending.

This will be followed by a masterclass at 4.00pm, entitled 'A new deal for carers: meeting the challenges of the White Paper' which will be delivered by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

Please see www.nhsconfed2006.org for full details.

ENDS

 

Notes for editors

Case studies - for more information please contact Amy Darlington on 07767 770309 or at amy.darlington@nhsconfed.org
Case study 1
Education from the experts
The Leeds branch of Carers UK are working with East Leeds Primary Care Trust to improve carer awareness. One of the problems faced by carers was the lack of flexibility of GP and hospital appointment times. To tackle this carers from the Carers UK branch delivered training to doctors, nurses and GP's receptionists, telling them first hand why they need to be flexible with carers. 
Carer Jacqueline Dewhurst from Blackburn had a bad experience with her local NHS acute trust - she is now working with the Trust, local carers organisations and PALS to develop a charter for carers which includes provisions for carers to be involved in decisions about care and treatment, and other important aspects of hospital care. Jacqueline took this to Lancashire Carers Forum and together with senior NHS and social care managers they are working to educate NHS trusts about carers, not just in Blackburn but right across Lancashire

Case study 2
Training carers of vulnerable children
A team of operational ambulance personnel from Westcountry Ambulance Services NHS Trust have joined forces with Derriford Hospital in Plymouth as well as various other allied health professionals and voluntary organisations to provide training in infant resuscitation to parents who care for children who are liable to suffer from a number of medical conditions and/or complications. The scheme has saved many lives of young children across the region.                             

1.      The NHS Confederation represents more than 90% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland. 

Contact details

Contact Media Relations Manager Joanna Clason on 020 7074 3306 or 07798 571078 or Senior Media Officer Amy Darlington on 020 7074 3304 or 07767 770309.

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