Health Minister launches new service for unpaid carers
16 Jun 2014 03:38 PM
A new carers information
and outreach service has been launched by the Welsh Minister for Health and
Social Services Mark Drakeford
he service will provide support
to some of the 370,000 unpaid family carers in Wales who support family and
friends who are ill, frail or disabled on an hourly, daily and weekly
basis.
Professor Drakeford will open
Carmarthenshire Carers Information Service and Carers Outreach Service during
Carers Week, which aims to reach out to the thousands of families who are
currently missing out on services and support.
They will be run by Crossroads
Care Sir Gar – an organisation already synonymous with putting carers
first by providing quality local services.
Professor Drakeford
said:
“It is great to be able to
launch this new service in Llanelli today. Crossroads Sir Gar has a track
record of excellent local work supporting unpaid family carers across
Carmarthenshire.
“I’m sure this new
service will enhance the available information, advice and support available to
carers across the county.
“It is vital people are
aware that these essential services are available and I would urge family
carers across Carmarthenshire to find out what support is available to them
locally.”
There are estimated to be more
than 370,000 carers in Wales, 90,000 of whom look after family and friends for
at least 50 hours a week. Between 70% and 95% of the care provided to people in
communities across Wales is given freely by family and
friends.
Simon Hatch, Carers Trust
director for Wales, said:
“Carers do an amazing role
and without them public services in Wales would collapse. There are 90,000
people providing unpaid care for over 50 hours each week across the country, so
this new Carmarthenshire service will help to provide some much needed help and
support.”