Carer's career options damaged: Burstow and Brake

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 12th Jun 2005

Carshalton & Wallington MP Tom Brake and Sutton & Cheam MP Paul Burstow met with local carers at Sutton Carers' coffee morning today to mark the start of Carers Week 2005 (June 13-19).

Almost two-thirds (65%) of the UK's six million unpaid carers believe their career prospects have been affected because of their caring responsibilities, according to the results of a new survey released today to coincide with Carers Week.

The survey, which canvassed the views of more than 2,900 UK carers - people who look after a friend, partner or relative due to illness, frailty or disability - also showed that an alarming 74% of carers currently in paid employment use their annual leave when they need time off because of their caring responsibilities.

Carers need more flexible working arrangements and the results revealed that an encouraging 70% of carers in paid employment have employers with flexible working practices.

Paul Matz, Carers Week Manager, says: "The difficulties that carers face in balancing work and caring are vividly demonstrated by the finding that two out of three carers believe their career prospects have been adversely affected as a result of their caring responsibilities.

"The fact that so many carers also have to use annual leave to carry out their caring role is also very worrying, although it's pleasing to hear that an increasing number of employers have flexible working arrangements for carers.

"Every carer deserves the opportunity to have a fulfilling life of their own - whether through work, study or leisure activities, and they need the right support and help to be able to do that. The new Carers Act, just implemented in April, gives every carer the right to an assessment of their own needs by their local authority so we hope that, as a result, more carers will receive the help they need."

Tom Brake MP said, "Carers, particularly those supporting people with mental health problems still face an uphill in getting their voices heard."

Paul Burstow MP said, "Carers save the country about £60 billion a year and without them the NHS and social care system would collapse. Yet many local carers are missing out on vital support, which puts their own health at risk."

"There are 16,000 carers in Sutton, but only 3,000 of these are on the register. We must help all those who look after a sick, frail or disabled relative or partner recognise that they are carers, and check whether they are getting all of the support they are entitled to."