The presence of Gordon Brown and the health secretary, Alan Johnson, at the standing commission for carers's meeting in Leeds earlier this month gave weight to the government's pledge to improve the lives of carers with its New Deal for Carers, says Judith Cameron.
The commission was also joined by Barbara Keeley, vice-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on carers, as well as Ivan Lewis, minister for care services.
The morning was spent exploring the dominant themes that have arisen from different consultation meetings with carers throughout England. Over the last seven months, the Department of Health has set up numerous consultation events with groups of carers around the country and an online ideas tree to ask how the government's new strategy on care can help improve their lives. The initiative has given hundreds of carers the chance to have their voices heard by decision makers. With a rapidly ageing population and the recognition that disabled people have the right to a decent quality of life, carers' needs can no longer be marginalised. Using the results from these carer consultations, the standing commission aims to put together some clear objectives to feed into the government's strategy later this spring.
A conference with carers was held that afternoon, to which commission members, the prime minister and his entourage were also invited. The carers, drawn from Leeds and surrounding areas were divided into smaller discussion groups with ministers joining tables to listen to the debate. Despite a film crew working through the room, the carers were loud and clear in their opinions. Many areas of concern were explored, from health to social services, employment to recognition and income to equal opportunities.
The excellent practical organisation of the meeting by the Department of Health and Carers UK was constructive and ended with a carer from each group presenting its priorities directly to government ministers. If previous consultations were as well orchestrated, participant carers will be persuaded that Gordon Brown and his government do recognise their needs and plan to do something about them.
The results highlighted recurring problems including the need for care plans to be more personalised and for carers to be seen by health professionals as expert partners in care. Issues that are sure to be re-visited included the desire for the provision of care from either health or social services to be more seamlessly delivered with comprehensive and adequate information easily available.
At the end of the afternoon, Lewis spoke eloquently and with insight; there can be little doubt that he has helped push the needs of carers up this government's agenda. He is adamant that the new strategy being put into place for years to come must provide a system that is easy to navigate and offers carers maximum power and control over support services. Another important suggestion he made was that the consultation meetings, of which this was the last planned, should continue. How otherwise, he asked, can the New Deal for Carers be properly judged?
