Carers Week Statement

This week is Carers Week, and today’s general debate on National Carers Week and respite for carers is timely.

Carers Week provides us all with an opportunity to pay tribute to carers in Enfield North, and across the country, for the huge contributions they make to families and communities every day. Carers UK organised an important drop-in for parliamentarians and staff to meet with unpaid carers and charities to discuss the sector.

Here, in Enfield North, I know the amazing work that organisations such as Enfield Carers Centre do. I have worked closely with them throughout my time as their Member of Parliament, visiting them and recently working with Aldi UK to donate easter eggs for their young carers.

But after 13 years of Conservative inertia and mismanagement, our care system is on the brink, with record vacancies in the paid sector, and unpaid carers utterly exhausted.

A recent report found that eight million people (31%) in the UK with experience in providing care, have seen their health and wellbeing suffer - a statistic that won't be a surprise to many.

The findings demonstrate the need for the government and all areas of society to play a role in supporting millions of people to identify their caring role and get help. However, this is still lacking from this government.

The last Labour government introduced a 10-year national care strategy, but the Tories haven’t managed one in thirteen years.

The next Labour government would implement our first Fair Pay Agreement in social care, to give adult care workers a seat at the table with employers, to negotiate better pay. We would also professionalise the paid care sector, offering new roles and a chance for career progression, and setting national standards every provider must meet.

Lastly, we would give every family carer the right to request flexible working from day one.

Caring for a loved one is a life-changing and often unexcepted responsibility. We should make it our goal to ensure that a wide range of options and substantial support is available for our local heroes, who selflessly take on this crucial responsibility.