Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) any recent steps his Department has taken to support unpaid carers of family members living with dementia; and (ii) whether any recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of that support.
Minister of Health: (i) My Department recognises the critical role of unpaid carers in supporting people living with dementia and continues to work with Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts to ensure that carers are identified and supported at the earliest opportunity. There are a variety of supports available to unpaid carers across the region. Unpaid carers can be offered respite/short breaks from caring, equipment or home adaptations, emotional support and a care plan outlining agreed services, including emergency contingency planning. Each trust has a carers co-ordinator that act as a single point of contact for carers, helping them access support, information, assessments, and training.
(ii) Under the Carers and Direct Payments Act (Northern Ireland) 2002, carers are entitled to an assessment of their own needs, and Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts have a statutory duty to provide such assessments where a need is identified. Trusts report on the delivery of carers’ assessments as part of their statutory functions, and this information is used by the Department to monitor provision, assess the adequacy of support, identify areas for improvement, and inform ongoing policy development. The Department will continue to review this information and engage with HSC Trusts and key stakeholders to ensure that support for unpaid carers of people with dementia remains responsive and effective.
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