Liberal Democrats propose new rights for carers

Reacting to the announcement Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:

“We welcome the Liberal Democrats’ pledge to give carers legal status as partners in care. The vast majority of care for elderly and disabled people is provided by families – a contribution worth £87 billion each year – yet too often their opinions and wishes are ignored by professionals. They should be recognised as the experts and involved at all stages of care.”

“Better information and advice are consistently raised by carers as a key priority. £740 million worth of carers’ benefits go unclaimed every year and carers struggle to navigate the system. Carers have been given new rights in recent years – for example an assessment of their needs by social services and the right to request flexible working from their employer – but unless they know about them they are pointless.”

She continued:

“We also welcome the commitment to consider the level of Carer’s Allowance. The current rate of £48.65 is seen as an insult by many carers. It should be increased to the level of the national minimum wage and all carers should have some financial recognition for the contribution they are making.”

The Policy Paper, which will go to the Party's Spring Conference in March, includes: 

• A 'Care Guarantee' by spending £2 billion on a personal care payment for all elderly people requiring care, based on need and not their ability to pay. Individuals could 'top up' their care package by making contributions that would be matched by the state.
• A 'Patient Contract' guaranteeing every citizen access to a high standard of core healthcare entitlements within maximum waiting times. To make sure that the NHS delivers, patients would have the right to receive private treatment, paid for by the NHS, if the waiting time was not met.  
• Directly elected local Health Boards instead of unaccountable Primary Care Trusts. This would put people in charge of decisions about their local health services.
• Roll out the use of direct payments and individual budgets for people with chronic, long term conditions, for mental health services and support for those with learning disabilities.

For carers, the Paper offers:

• Freedom from discrimination, a statutory right for carers to be treated as partners in care, improved mechanisms to challenge unacceptable standards of care whether in a care home or provided as domiciliary care and access to information and advice.
• The Party will also consult on the level of Carer's Allowance and on means of enhancing the employment rights of carers so as to help facilitate continued work.

To read the full Policy Paper on the Liberal Democrats' website, click here.

For further information, please contact Kate Groucutt on 020 7922 7979/07505 184262 or kate.groucutt@carersuk.org