NHS given £150m to support carers
The Government’s Carers’ Strategy (England only) was published in 2008. It committed £150m to provide breaks for carers via Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) – your local NHS body. £50m would be given in 2009/10 and £100m in 2010/11.
However, this money was not ring-fenced and PCTs did not have to spend it on supporting carers. Our report No breaks for carers found that in 2009/10, PCTs planned to use only 23% of the £50m to increase support for carers. You can see how your PCT performed last year:
Details of spending by Primary Care Trusts 2009-11 (94 KB)
Carers Trust PCT Survey results 2009/10 (179 KB)
No Breaks For Carers Report Oct 09 (249 KB)
How much is your Primary Care Trust receiving?
Although this is new money, the £150m will be given to PCTs as part of their overall total allocation and PCTs will not be advised how much of the £150m each is getting. So the money being given to PCTs is not ring-fenced and is given as part of their total allocation.
To estimate how much each PCT is receiving of the £150m, it is possible to use the same percentage of the £150m as their total allocation is as a percentage of the total given to all PCTs. So, if a PCT gets 1% of the total given to all PCTs they will get 1% of the £150m. Below is a table outlining the amounts for each PCT:
We’re campaigning to persuade PCTs to use their allocations to support carers. To help persuade your local PCT, find how you can get involved.
For more information, contact Gordon Conochie, Policy & Parliamentary Officer, gconochie@carers.org/07766 410885
