Government unveils review of national strategy for carers and £33m support package

A wide ranging review of the national strategy for carers has been announced by the government.

Alongside this, a multi-million pound package of support for carers has also been unveiled by Ivan Lewis, minister for care services.

Lewis announced a range of measures designed to recognise the work that carers carry out across the country, including:

• £25m to be spent on providing short-term home-based respite care for carers in crisis or emergency situations in every council
• £3m towards the establishment of a national helpline for carers
• £5m to support the development of an expert carers programme.

Lewis said: “This update to the carers’ strategy will build on the strong foundations we’ve established over the past 10 years, including the introduction of the carers’ grant, the right to request flexible working and our intention to shortly introduce the carers’ pension credit.”

Imelda Redmond, chief executive of charity Carers UK, called for a “visionary strategy which sets the agenda for the next decade”.

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She said: “A cross-government approach, championed at the highest level, is needed to address the difficult issues facing carers and society. How do we juggle work and care, what support do we offer carers to find suitable services for themselves and the people they care for, how can we improve the health and wellbeing of carers?

“We need a visionary strategy which sets the agenda for the next decade.”