Post by Ace on Jun 13, 2004 14:51:53 GMT -5
Ananova: Stars support courageous carers
Celebrities gave their support to the courageous people who give up everything to care for a sick loved-one.
Pierce Brosnan and Cilla Black are among the stars voicing their support for carers during Carers Week.
Research has shown that two-thirds of carers in the UK feel that their own health has suffered as a result of their caring role.
It is estimated that the UK's six million carers save the Exchequer £57 billion a year by providing 24-hour care to friends and family which would otherwise have to be provided by the NHS or social services.
Brosnan, who cared for his wife Cassandra before her death from ovarian cancer in 1991, said: "Carers are incredibly courageous people who often give up a lot to look after someone else. They need all the support we can give them."
Black, who also helped care for her husband Bobby before his death from cancer in 1999, added: "I am very aware how difficult, yet rewarding, looking after someone can be."
Actress Sheila Hancock, whose husband John Thaw died from oesophagus cancer in 2002, said: "Being a carer is difficult but it can also be rewarding - something I know from first hand experience after caring for my husband when he was ill."
Research for Carers Week found that just 2% of GPs offered carers a special appointment system, and only 37% kept notes of carers on their medical records in order to keep a special eye on them.
Campaigners said this made if more difficult for carers to seek treatment for themselves and, if they needed emergency medical care, for arrangements to be made for the person they care for.
Carers Week is organised by the charities Carers UK, Crossroads for Caring and Carers, the MS Society and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers. More information on events taking place during Carers Week is available by visiting www.carersweek.org.
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Telegraph: NHS 'in danger' from failing health of Britain's 6m carers
By Sarah Womack
(Filed: 14/06/2004)
Charities fear the NHS may not be able to cope if more is not done to protect the health of Britain's six million carers.
Research shows that two thirds of carers feel that their health has suffered as a result of their supporting role.
Paul Matz, manager of Carers' Week, which starts today, said: "The NHS should invest a little now in helping carers look after their health rather than risk them not being well enough to care because the impact on the NHS could be overwhelming.
"People with caring responsibilities make an enormous contribution to society."
Carers - people who voluntarily look after a partner, friend or relative due to illness, disability or frailty - save the Treasury an estimated £57 billion a year.
The chief executives of four major charities - Carers UK, Crossroads Caring for Carers, the MS Society and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers - are writing to every Primary Care Trust in the country urging them to improve the services they provide for carers.
They are demanding the introduction of flexible GP appointment systems, records of carers to be kept on medical notes and information provided to carers about the support available to them.
Celebrities, including the film star Pierce Brosnan, the TV presenter Cilla Black and the actress Sheila Hancock, are voicing their support for carers during Carers' Week.
Brosnan, who cared for his wife, Cassandra, before her death from ovarian cancer in 1991, said: "Carers are incredibly courageous people who often give up a lot to look after someone else. They need all the support we can give them."
Black, who helped care for her husband Bobby before his death from cancer in 1999, added: "I am very aware how difficult, yet rewarding, looking after someone can be.
"Up and down the country there are people caring for a partner, relative or friend, who deserve our utmost respect and admiration."
Hancock, whose husband, the actor John Thaw, died from cancer of the oesophagus in 2002, said: "Being a carer is difficult but it can also be rewarding - something I know from first-hand experience after caring for my husband when he was ill."
A survey of 1,774 carers shows that only two per cent of GPs offer carers a special appointments system and only 37 per cent keep a record of carers on their medical records.
This makes it more difficult for carers to seek treatment for themselves and, if they need emergency medical care, for arrangements to be made for the person they care for.
One in 10 adults is a carer and 58 per cent of them are women, with a fifth of adults in the 45-64 age group providing care.
Only 25 per cent of carers have had an assessment of their needs and more than half of those surveyed did not know that they could have an assessment.
Many carers give up an income, future employment prospects and pension rights to become a carer.
A quarter of carers said that they had to arrange for someone else to look after the person they are caring for so they could visit their GP.
Of the six million carers, 609,000 are in London alone. The South East has a further 738,000 and the South West 495,000. There are 482,000 carers in Scotland, 725,000 in the North West, 341,000 in Wales and 185,000 in Ulster.
Carers' Week is an annual event organised to support Britain's carers by campaigning for better rights and support for them.
Celebrities gave their support to the courageous people who give up everything to care for a sick loved-one.
Pierce Brosnan and Cilla Black are among the stars voicing their support for carers during Carers Week.
Research has shown that two-thirds of carers in the UK feel that their own health has suffered as a result of their caring role.
It is estimated that the UK's six million carers save the Exchequer £57 billion a year by providing 24-hour care to friends and family which would otherwise have to be provided by the NHS or social services.
Brosnan, who cared for his wife Cassandra before her death from ovarian cancer in 1991, said: "Carers are incredibly courageous people who often give up a lot to look after someone else. They need all the support we can give them."
Black, who also helped care for her husband Bobby before his death from cancer in 1999, added: "I am very aware how difficult, yet rewarding, looking after someone can be."
Actress Sheila Hancock, whose husband John Thaw died from oesophagus cancer in 2002, said: "Being a carer is difficult but it can also be rewarding - something I know from first hand experience after caring for my husband when he was ill."
Research for Carers Week found that just 2% of GPs offered carers a special appointment system, and only 37% kept notes of carers on their medical records in order to keep a special eye on them.
Campaigners said this made if more difficult for carers to seek treatment for themselves and, if they needed emergency medical care, for arrangements to be made for the person they care for.
Carers Week is organised by the charities Carers UK, Crossroads for Caring and Carers, the MS Society and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers. More information on events taking place during Carers Week is available by visiting www.carersweek.org.
=================================
Telegraph: NHS 'in danger' from failing health of Britain's 6m carers
By Sarah Womack
(Filed: 14/06/2004)
Charities fear the NHS may not be able to cope if more is not done to protect the health of Britain's six million carers.
Research shows that two thirds of carers feel that their health has suffered as a result of their supporting role.
Paul Matz, manager of Carers' Week, which starts today, said: "The NHS should invest a little now in helping carers look after their health rather than risk them not being well enough to care because the impact on the NHS could be overwhelming.
"People with caring responsibilities make an enormous contribution to society."
Carers - people who voluntarily look after a partner, friend or relative due to illness, disability or frailty - save the Treasury an estimated £57 billion a year.
The chief executives of four major charities - Carers UK, Crossroads Caring for Carers, the MS Society and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers - are writing to every Primary Care Trust in the country urging them to improve the services they provide for carers.
They are demanding the introduction of flexible GP appointment systems, records of carers to be kept on medical notes and information provided to carers about the support available to them.
Celebrities, including the film star Pierce Brosnan, the TV presenter Cilla Black and the actress Sheila Hancock, are voicing their support for carers during Carers' Week.
Brosnan, who cared for his wife, Cassandra, before her death from ovarian cancer in 1991, said: "Carers are incredibly courageous people who often give up a lot to look after someone else. They need all the support we can give them."
Black, who helped care for her husband Bobby before his death from cancer in 1999, added: "I am very aware how difficult, yet rewarding, looking after someone can be.
"Up and down the country there are people caring for a partner, relative or friend, who deserve our utmost respect and admiration."
Hancock, whose husband, the actor John Thaw, died from cancer of the oesophagus in 2002, said: "Being a carer is difficult but it can also be rewarding - something I know from first-hand experience after caring for my husband when he was ill."
A survey of 1,774 carers shows that only two per cent of GPs offer carers a special appointments system and only 37 per cent keep a record of carers on their medical records.
This makes it more difficult for carers to seek treatment for themselves and, if they need emergency medical care, for arrangements to be made for the person they care for.
One in 10 adults is a carer and 58 per cent of them are women, with a fifth of adults in the 45-64 age group providing care.
Only 25 per cent of carers have had an assessment of their needs and more than half of those surveyed did not know that they could have an assessment.
Many carers give up an income, future employment prospects and pension rights to become a carer.
A quarter of carers said that they had to arrange for someone else to look after the person they are caring for so they could visit their GP.
Of the six million carers, 609,000 are in London alone. The South East has a further 738,000 and the South West 495,000. There are 482,000 carers in Scotland, 725,000 in the North West, 341,000 in Wales and 185,000 in Ulster.
Carers' Week is an annual event organised to support Britain's carers by campaigning for better rights and support for them.