Following the Department of Health and Social Care’s announcement earlier this month of its the next steps proposal to put “People at the Heart of Care” policy paper Kirsten Alderson CEO of Suffolk Family Carers said,
“From our experience Suffolk’s family carers are exhausted from the pandemic and the ever increasing number of hours they spend caring for their friends and relatives. The details outlined in this next step proposal will do little to reduce an expectation that family carers will be able to cover for social care’s well documented recruitment and retention issues.”
“Family carers remain the backbone of compassionate caring but they appear to have been overlooked as they struggle to look after their family or friends at home, increasingly relying on the support of organisations like Suffolk Family Carers who continue to support more and more family carers each year. The challenges within social care will not be resolved unless family carers are properly supported and recognised for the essential role they play”
“Suffolk Family Carers welcomes that the County Council and other partners have been working together to embed an All Age Carers Strategy within Suffolk, but we know that meeting and assessing carers needs can be one of the first casualties in a challenging financial environment. We are keen to ensure that family carers and Suffolk Family Carers continue to be included in strategic conversations and decisions about how best to support family carers.”
About Suffolk Family Carers
For 35 years Suffolk Family Carers have been helping family carers of all ages across Suffolk get the support they need to live fuller lives. They provided information, advice and support to thousands of family carers each year whilst working closely with health and social care services provided by the NHS and Suffolk County Council.
Working together to ensure family carers are visible, valued, supported and connected
Media Contact: marketing@suffolkfamilycarers.org
