Councils ‘failing on human rights’

Councils may face legal challenges because they could be violating carers’ human rights, a report published this week warns.

Councils are not properly implementing the Human Rights Act, which came into force in October 2000, says the report commissioned by charity Carers UK, which also found “significant weaknesses” in the social care and health system.

It found that carers’ rights to life, privacy and family life, and freedom from inhuman or degrading treatment, were being breached.

For example, it said their right to life was being jeopardised because inadequate support was forcing them to delay medical treatment to a stage where their lives were at risk.

Imelda Redmond, chief executive of Carers UK, said: “Carers tell us time and again that they feel their human rights are being infringed when they are not given a choice about caring. They find that, when support is not right or insufficient, it is impossible to maintain even a basic quality of life. 

“Despite developments in law to improve the situation for carers, these policies are not being put into practice.”