Government funding failing to reach carers
Government funding failing to reach carers
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By Richard James. |  |
Tuesday, 13, Oct 2009 12:30
By Richard James.
Money pledged by the government to support carers is currently failing to reach them, new research has claimed.
The study by two leading charities suggests approximately £40 million of the £50 million is failing to be allocated properly.
Alarmingly 80 per cent of funds given to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in 2009/10 have not been used to increase carer support.
The charities, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Care, claim the information received from the trust by Freedom of Information requests shows there is a clear failure to prioritise carers' needs with indications that they are choosing to spend the money elsewhere, and in some cases to cover deficits.
Commenting on the results, Carole Cochrane, chief executive at The Princess Royal Trust for Carers said: "We are alarmed and disappointed at these research findings.
"Once again, the recognition of carers and their significant contribution is not seen as a priority by local health trusts, even though the country's six million carers already save the government an estimated £87 billion a year through caring at home.
"We have learnt from Primary Care Trusts that they are not receiving enough information from the government on how much allocation they will receive and how to spend it."
Anne Roberts, chief executive at Crossroads Care agreed, saying: "Carers need support. Without a break they can often reach crisis point where their own physical and mental health deteriorates.
"When carers reach this point, PCTs will have to provide additional support at additional cost, so failure to provide carers' breaks is short-sighted."
The charities have called on the government to make public how much of the £100m allocated each PCT spends and call on all trusts to spend their money on carers as originally proposed.