Barbara Keeley, MP for Worsley and Eccles South, has called on the Conservative Government to take action to improve the support available for carers.
Speaking at a debate during Carers Week Barbara criticised the Government for failing to address key issues for carers. She said that inadequate support for them and the people they care for was damaging quality of life for carers. She argued that Ministers must do more to recognise the importance of carers and to put in place policies to address their needs.
Barbara highlighted the fact that many carers continue to suffer financial hardship due to their caring responsibilities and that too many carers are left to cope alone with little or no support. She also criticised the Government’s lack of action to address the chronic underfunding of social care. Locally, Salford City Council has had to make cuts of £15 million to adult social care since 2010 as a result of Conservative Government cuts to council budgets.
Barbara said:
“Carers Week is a good opportunity to remind the Government of the challenges faced by country’s 6.5 million carers. It also provides us with an opportunity to recognise the contribution that carers make to society, and to highlight the challenges they face. In Worsley and Eccles South we have almost 11,000 carers who play a vital role in supporting our health and care system. I believe that carers need and deserve so much more respect and support than they are currently given.
“During Carers Week I attended a parliamentary event where I met carers who talked to me about their concerns and experiences. I was saddened to hear that three in four carers do not feel their caring role is understood or valued by their local community.
“I feel angry that the Conservative Government is failing to act to support carers. I will continue to put pressure on the Government to provide the help and support that carers in Worsley and Eccles South, and across the country, need and deserve.”
