CARING FOR CARERS
YNYS Mon’s AM visited an Anglesey day centre last week as he unveiled his party’s Carers’ Contract - a package of measures designed to better support staff across Wales’ care sector
At Moelfre, Plaid Cymru Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health, Rhun ap Iorwerth, described this package, which includes putting an end to zero-hours contracts which create uncertainty for staff, a living wage and proper career structure for all care sector workers, and a new partner- ship with unpaid carers that reverses the cuts to respite care.
He said that the Carers’ Contract would represent a move towards giving carers ‘proper recognition’ for their selfless and tireless work in caring for others in a sector facing increasing pressures.
“Social Care staff deserve a proper career, not conditions that would be more appropriate to a period drama,” he said.
“And unpaid carers caring for their loved ones will have a new partnership based on proper recognition of their selflessness.
“Last year, Carers UK found that 55 per cent of carers in Wales said their own physical health had suffered because of their caring duties. That’s the highest percentage anywhere in the UK.
“The amount of respite care provided in Wales.– that is the number of nights of care provided in the region – has dropped a staggering 24% since 2011.
“This has happened at the same time as this Government presided over a programme of closing community hospitals, with an overall decline in the number of NHS beds available in Wales of seven per cent.
“These community hospital beds, I need not point out, could have provided a smooth transition for patients back to the community, tackling delayed transfers of care, as well, of course, as providing desperatelyneeded respite care for the army of unpaid carers that keeps our system afloat.
“Plaid Cymru thinks it’s time this changed.
“Our call for a Carers’ Contract aims to give more adequate recognition to those who work tirelessly to care for others.”