Plug pulled on carers support scheme

A SERVICE offering critical support to carers is being cut as part of the shake-up in health provision.

The county’s Carers Health and Well-Being Service was launched in 2015 in recognition of the need to reduce the strain on the ordinary people who look after loved ones.

The scheme was highlighted in an NHS report last year as a good example of an organisation working closely with GPs to provide backing for the unsung heroes.

Cost pressures, however, have forced the county’s health and social care chiefs to pull the plug on funding.

Money comes from the Better Care Together Fund, managed by Leicestershire County Council and the area’s controlling clinical commissioning groups.

From April 30 that money will stop.

Voluntary Action South Leicestershire (VASL) which operates the service with workers linking up with local GPs is now trying to secure alternative cash.

Maureen O’Malley, VASL senior manager, said: “We acknowledge that difficult decisions have had to be made by the Better Care Together Board and, even though the service was highly credited and very much needed, there were other services that had to be prioritised.”

The organisation is now appealing direct to GP practices for assistance in identifying any potential funding opportunities.

Maureen added: “We are in the process of producing costings for the service which will provide the opportunity to tailor services to GP. It is acknowledged that carers can cope longer within their caring role in the community as long as they have the right support in place.

“Nationally our carers save the economy £119 billion a year. The Carers Health and Well-being Service costs £165,000 per annum providing support to carers across Leicestershire.”

There are an estimated 70,000 carers within the community across Leicestershire.