New Carers Guide Launched

Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health has praised the role and commitment of carers.

Dr Andrew McCormick was speaking at the Carers Northern Ireland Annual Conference, “Who Cares? Caring in 2006 and Beyond” at the Dunadry Hotel, in Templepatrick.

In setting out the Department’s vision for the future of informal caring, Dr McCormick said “If our community wants carers to continue in their caring role, it is our job to ensure that they are valued, and in order to show this, we must ensure that they have access to high quality, flexible, responsive services. Nothing less will do.”

Dr McCormick made reference to the strategy for carers “Caring for Carers: Recognising, Valuing and Supporting the Caring Role” which was published by his Department in January 2006 and said “the document sets out what we have been doing and contains a vision of what still needs to be done to give carers the quality of life we believe they deserve.” He further added “it represents a firm campaign of action for the coming months and years, which will be fully integrated into our existing priorities and plans.”

At the conference Dr McCormick launched two Departmental initiatives, flowing from the strategy, which he hoped would make a difference to the lives of carers. The first was the publication of an “A-Z Guide to Services for Carers” which will be available from GP surgeries and carers voluntary organisations. The second was a DVD about young carers which had been produced in association with the Department of Education and Barnardo’s Northern Ireland. The DVD is to be used as a training aide in the health and education sectors to raise awareness about the impact of caring on the lives of young people.