AQW 40655/11-15 Written question to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether a key point of contact exists within each Health and Social Care Trust to encourage and assist older carers with the carers assessment, review and reassessment.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 13 January 2015
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 13 January 2015
- Answer due by
- 28 January 2015
- Answered
- 23 January 201510 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
As I have previously advised, all Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts undertake a high level engagement process across all Programmes of Care (POC) to identify as many ‘hidden’ carers as possible. As part of this engagement process, HSC Trusts support and promote a range of public awareness campaigns, including the Carers Trust ‘Mind the Gap’ project, which specifically targets older carers. I refer you to my answer to AQW 39997/11-15, for detail on other ongoing awareness campaigns by individual HSC Trust.
HSC Trust Carer Co-ordinators have been in post since 2008 and drive the policy on support for carers of all ages. Carer Co-ordinators act as the main point of contact for those identified carers availing or looking to avail of the assessment process.