An increase in the carers allowance to the level of the basic state
pension has been called for by MPs in a move timed to draw
attention to Carers Week.
The early day motion, which is being put by Labour MP Bill Tynan,
proposes to raise carers allowance from £44.35 a week to
£79.60.
Carers charities warned that more needed to be done to protect the
health of carers. Failure to do so could leave the NHS unable to
cope with the consequences - UK carers save the government
£57bn a year.
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Almost half of 1,000 carers surveyed by the Princess Royal Trust
for Carers said they had health problems. More than one-third of
the carers also said they had depression.
The four charities supporting Carers Week - Carers UK, Crossroads
Caring for Carers, the MS Society and the Princess Royal Trust for
Carers - are writing to primary care trusts urging them to improve
the services they provide for carers.
- Carers Week survey from
www.carersweek.org and the
Princess Royal Trust for Carers survey from
www.carers.org
