This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New guidance for NHS and carers
08/08/2004
Every Health Board in Scotland will have to produce a
Carer Information Strategy under new guidance setting out
how NHS staff will identify Scotland's 600,000 carers and
provide targeted information to help them.
The strategies will also involve training NHS staff to
recognise hidden carers and be more aware of carers'
needs.
Deputy Health Minister Tom McCabe said:
"We know that caring often has a direct impact on both
the physical and mental health of carers.
"We know too that many 'hidden carers' are often unaware
that support is available until they reach crisis point, a
point at which their own physical and mental health can
already be damaged.
"Many of these carers come into contact with health
services and practitioners early on in their caring role
and it is vital they are identified as carers at their
first point of contact with the NHS.
"To ensure this is achieved Carer Information Strategies
should be developed locally with direct input from carers,
carers' organisations, and local authorities. This will
help to get the kind of information that is most useful to
carers.
"Good quality, targeted information will help carers to
make early and informed choices about seeking practical and
financial support, ensuring they are better supported in
all aspects of their role.
"The Executive is committed to introducing Carer
Information Strategies as a priority and this consultation
should help us to do that in a way that is both achievable
and effective."
Colin Williams, Director of the Princess Royal Trust for
Carers, said:
"This consultation document marks the beginning of a
fundamental change in the relationship between carers and
health service staff.
"Carers are key partners in the provision of care and
health service professionals must learn to make use of the
knowledge and skills carers have.
"There will be enormous savings for the health services
if they involve carers in decisions regarding the care of
the person they look after.
Equally it is important that health service staff search
out the carer when they have contact with a patient.
"Becoming a carer transforms the lives of families and
has an effect on carers' health, jobs, relationships and
finances.
"It is imperative that carers are supported in their
caring role and health service staff are ideally places to
identify carers and direct them to the voluntary and
statutory organisations which can make their lives
easier."
Pat Begley, director of Carers Scotland, said:
"It provides a wonderful opportunity to change and
enhance the lives of Carers by involving them at every
stage in the process.
"If implemented properly the guidance would go a long
way to turning the Rhetoric of 'Carers as key partners in
care' into a reality.
"I hope that all agencies will embrace the guidance as a
blueprint to put carers at the heart of the Care
process".
The consultation period ends on October 29.
Final guidance is expected to issue early in 2005 and it
is expected that NHS Boards will be required to submit
strategies to Ministers by the Autumn of 2005.