The PDS welcomes the Government's new financial investment to support carers announced in its National Strategy for Carers, published today, but is disappointed that no immediate action has been taken to address the financial difficulties of those carers who rely on benefits.

The Government's new National Strategy for Carers is underpinned by £255 million to implement some immediate steps alongside with medium and long-term plans in England.

This includes:
• £150 million towards planned short breaks for carers
• £38 million towards supporting carers to enter or re-enter the job market

Other schemes include the piloting of annual health checks for carers to help them stay well and training for GPs to recognise and support carers. A more integrated and personalised support service for carers will be offered through easily accessible information, targeted training for key professionals to support carers, and pilots to examine how the NHS can better support carers.

The last Government National Carers' Strategy was introduced in 1999. However, carers of people with Parkinson's have not fared any better since then.

A PDS survey, completed by more than 3,000 carers of people with Parkinson's, revealed that most are full-time carers, spending 50 hours or more per week caring for the person with Parkinson's. Despite carers of people with Parkinson's being a vulnerable group in need of support:

• The proportion of carers receiving support from social services has declined since the last PDS members' survey (conducted in 1997) from 16% to 11%.

• Only 29% of carers are aware of their rights to a local services assessment of their own needs, despite them having this right for over a decade.

• More than half (55%) of carers who gave up work to care for somebody with Parkinson's are financially worse off.

• The financial situation of 28% of carers has worsened.

• Just over half of carers felt that their own physical or mental health had deteriorated since living with or caring for someone with Parkinson's. Of those, nearly nine out of ten reported stress or fatigue.
Val Buxton, Director of Policy, Campaigns and Information at the PDS said:

"Unpaid carers play a hugely important role in ensuring people with Parkinson's remain independent for as long as possible and it is crucial that they are well-supported. Our survey shows that the last Government Carers' Strategy hasn't led to any real change.

"We welcome the additional money for respite and other support announced in the new strategy, but it's disappointing that no immediate action has been taken to address the financial difficulties of those carers who rely on benefits. Given that the last strategy has not led to improvements for carers of people with Parkinson's, we are concerned that unless the new strategy is implemented rigorously, it will fail to make a real difference to the lives of carers."

The PDS wants:

• Sufficient resources to be allocated to, and spent on, meeting the needs of carers
• Clear targets for improvement of carer services to be met by local authorities and PCTs
• All carers to be able to access appropriate respite breaks
• NHS targeted support for carers, including increasing the number of carers registered with their GP, receiving health checks and getting flu jabs
• Every carer to have the opportunity to establish an emergency plan
• Better information and advice about support available, resulting in an increase in the number of carers being offered an assessment

View the Government's National Strategy for Carers: 'Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities'

The PDS would like to know what you think about the new National Strategy for Carers. Contact our Campaigns team on 020 7963 9307 or email: campaigns@parkinsons.org.uk