Vote to highlight carers’issues

Dear Editor

I am writing, as one of the 13,308 identified unpaid carers in Perth and Kinross, to highlight the Scotland’s Carers Local Election Manifesto 2017.

I am the Chair of the Carers Voice. Our main aim is to engage in strategic development and provide a voice for unpaid carers and we are supported by PKAVS Carers Hub. I am also a carer representative on the Health and Social Care Integrated Joint Board.

The National Carer Organisations Local Manifesto calls for all candidates to support carers and protect the vital services that carers, and the people they care for, rely on. Carers are represented in every sector of society. They are older people, they are parents, they are from rural and BME communities.

The issues that affect carers are issues for us all – caring for ageing relatives, caring for loved ones if they become ill, expecting high quality care when we need it ourselves.

Supporting carers makes financial sense. In Scotland, carers save the economy £10.8 billion every year. A small amount of investment in supporting carers can sustain someone in their caring role.

Not investing and having to replace the care we provide is hugely expensive; supporting carers can reduce the need for local authority and health interventions for care and cared for people.

I think all of your readers will agree that supporting carers makes sense and that they will use the local elections to gather support and highlight these issues with candidates.

Maureen Summers Chair Carers’ Voice