PCT quizzed on respite care money

12.00.00am GMT Thu 11th Mar 2010

In 2008 the government announced it was doubling the amount of money to fund rest periods for long-term carers, £50m was to be spent in 2010 and £100m next year. Two charities, the Princess Royal Trust for Carers and the Crossroads Care Charity, have recently analysed FOI (freedom of information) requests from 100 PCTs and claim only 23% of this years money has been used to increase services for carers.

Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman, Stephen Lloyd, said "I was very concerned to hear this report and will be writing to the Chief Executive, Mr Michael Wood, of our own local PCT, East Sussex Downs & Weald, to confirm that this money has in fact been spent and will be spent next year on what it was allocated for. To fund rest periods for long-term carers of which there are many in Eastbourne. Carers locally have already been hit by the County Councils lamentable decision to shut St Anthony's Court and Gilda Crescent to respite care, so it has become doubly important that this government money goes where it was supposed to go."

He added: "Carers provide a vital role. They offer an extraordinary, selfless service to their loved ones who need help and I think it is vital we as a society support them in their efforts. This is why a key component of Liberal Democrat policy is to provide long-term carers with a weeks holiday a year. We recognise the tremendous work they do and I hope our PCT will be spending every penny it was allocated in supporting our local carers.