Hard-working carers are getting a raw deal

I WRITE in response to

Julie Morgan, MS and Deputy Minister for

Health and Social Services, (“Indoor care home visits could resume next week”, Echo, March 5).

Whilst it is encouraging that visits could resume the week commencing today,

March 8, there remains much to discuss regarding the performance of those responsible for such matters.

The Deputy Health Minister has highlighted the one-off payment of £500 for care and support workers (Welsh Government Social Care Workforce Special Payment Scheme), whilst blaming “Tories” for taxation on the payment.

Whilst the one-off payment was considered a welcome gesture by some, the Welsh Government failed to reimburse income tax and/or national insurance deductions resulting from the £500 payment to those who have worked tirelessly throughout this pandemic.

The Carers Support Grant for Carers in Wales is simply not good enough. The Welsh Government set aside funds for grants of up to £300 to help those deemed in need with anything from paying utility bills to buying a washing machine. The total fund is £1 million yet during 2020 the amount of unpaid carers dramatically increased from approximately 400,000 up to around 680,000. This fund is nowhere near enough to assist all unpaid carers at this unprecedented time. Adding insult to injury, there is a huge backlog of Carers’ Needs Assessments with Respite all but non-existent.

Funding was, however, provided for “Me Time” in June 2020 which provided an hour or two for carers to partake in a virtual walk. Many carers have told me they were too exhausted to even embark upon a virtual walk let alone a real one.

There is urgent need for robust debate around pay rates for care and support staff, including the need to ask why there are so many unpaid carers left to rely upon minimal Carers Allowance. Let us not forget the child carers, many of whom are all but politely ignored while those in power such as the Deputy Minister for Health earn eyewatering amounts of money for themselves.

I would urge people to read the minutes of the Welsh Government Health, Social Care and Sport Committee meeting held on December 9, 2020. During this meeting it was made crystal clear that 35% of young and young adult carers were caring for more people than before the pandemic, with alarmingly high levels of deterioration of mental and emotional health. The meeting transcript lays bare failure well before the pandemic broke out.

The Deputy Health Minister can put out as many “charming” articles as she wants but as a person helping care (unpaid) for a profoundly disabled person, I know the truth. Many others tell me they want change following the May 6 election and sincerely hope that new blood is brought in to manage health and social care in Wales. It is time for change.

Jane Rogers

Old St Mellons, Cardiff

Those in power such as the Deputy Minister for Health earn eye-watering amounts of money...

Jane Rogers Old St Mellons