The debt we owe to carers

14th June 2006

Monday marked the start of Carers Week 2006. It is a time for all of us to recognise the amazing work done by carers who sacrifice so much to provide care for vulnerable loved ones.

A carer is someone who provides care and support for no payment. They could be sons and daughters who have given up work to care for a frail parent, or someone who has cut down their hours to help a friend battling with cancer. They could be parents themselves, looking after children with severe mental health problems.

One person in 12 in Southampton- almost 18,000 people- perform some caring duties. Each has their own story. But carers face some common pressures.

The first is money. There are 6 million carers in the UK. Some estimates put the combined market value of the work they do at £57 billion pounds. But they receive no wage and 70% have to give up full-time work. Long term carers also risk losing out on a full pension because they were not in paid employment for enough years.

Carers' contributions to society deserve to be matched. If the Government's pensions proposals are accepted, the state will pay your national insurance contributions if you are providing care.

And next year the Government plans to give part-time carers the right to flexible working hours, just like parents. Paying carers' national insurance, flexible working hours, and the carer grant are all practical ways of ensuring a decision to care today doesn't result in poverty tomorrow.

The second pressure carers have to deal with is their own health. Over half of all carers have been treated for stress and other physical ailments. It's not hard to see why. The emotional wrench of supporting a vulnerable loved one, with few breaks or distractions, requires immense physical and mental strength.

That's why the Carers Week 2006 campaign is to get primary care trusts to provide health checks for carers. This week I will be campaigning with Southampton health workers to make sure every carer knows about the support they are entitled to.

Some people have the idea that carers are weak or fragile. But the work they do is truly a mark of strength. The Carers Award Ceremony this Friday will be a moment to recognise carers' contributions. But the best award we could possibly give is to make sure carers get the financial and health support they need. We owe them that much and more.

If you are a carer living in Southampton, or if you know someone who is, you can call Carers Together Southampton on 023 8051 0492 to get information on available support.

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