For the same reasons, I am not able to attend any ‘Caring Choices’ debates, and my previous message on this board has not drawn a single reply from ‘Caring Choices’.

When it comes to the partners listed in ‘Caring Choices’, I am starky aware that two of them are reseach organisations, five are charities(excluding Carers UK who should be ‘the Voice’ fighting for carers but who seem to be hedging their political bets), and seven have a financial profit-making/money-saving interest in keeping the cost of care within the family!!!

Is it any wonder that carers are cynical about the government’s intentions and their methods of collecting information?

The fact that none of these ‘gooders will speak up on our behalf for proper pay and conditions (parity with Foster Carers) proves that they are merely leeches, seeking to further line various already well lined back pockets.

This is a huge multi-million pound business now, with many private limited companies, local authorities and PCTs competing for a slice of the (very considerable billions) cake.

Most are just sucking money out of this budget that is supposed to come direct to Carers. An example is our LA who had £1m allocated for Carers benefit, but they took over £300k n admin costs and commandeered the rest for Care for the Elderly whose budget was over subscribed.

The money should be paid directly to Carers, cutting out all these “middle men” and ‘gooders.

We do not need these legions of self styled “experts” and committees and advisory panels and charities all with plush offices in London’s expensive docklands.

Its my estimate that the £200bn saved by paying Carers directly would more than pay the £140bn yearly bill, thus saving the government £60bn per year.

Of course nobody within these ivory towers would dare to suggest such a thing, it would kill the goose that lays the golden egg, wouldn’t it?

So go away and count your money, because the days of these type of organisation are numbered, we have one of the most ruthless and vociferous PMs and ex chancellors this country has ever know, its not for a joke he’s known as “Iron man” with an iron fist….he’s coming to audit some books near you soon…

ian

What gives Caring Choices and the other places mentioned the right to exclude Carers from taking part?

Following extensive consultation, research and costing, this comprehensive Report looked at various options for funding and finally recommended:

‘The costs of long-term care should be split between living costs, housing costs and personal care. Personal care should be available, after assessment, according to need and paid for from general taxation: the rest should be subject to co-payment according to means.’

The recommendations were implemented in Scotland where care is, in effect, subsidised by tax payers in the south of England.

After the Government’s failure to act, the Royal Commission issued a further Statement in 2003 which included:

‘There are no overwhelming resource implications to the implementation of the Royal Commission’s recommendation. If Government believes that long-term care funding is an important issue – and presumably it does, otherwise the Royal Commission would not have been set up – it can find the necessary resources both now and in the future. More important, the limited changes to the care funding system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have not addressed the deep-seated issue of inequity, hardship and the need for a principled approach across the United Kingdom. The system in these countries is unstable. If not dealt with in the near future, it will implode.’

Eight years on and we’re still debating it!!!

Both the full Report and the Statement are available on-line. Easiest to ’google’ for them.

“SECRET NI FUND” which stands at £38.4bn ”

. [Printed in the East Anglian Daily Times n 23,June 07) (copy available0

could be used towards funding. The article ws writeen by a member of the Pensioners Association. The writer was “indebtedThe National Pensioner’s Convention (NPC)

Unlike the charity site it actually IS run by Carers for Carers, we don’t hide the frustrations and anger at how Carers are treated by heavy-handed moderation.

If Caring is to be ‘improved’ then Carers themselves need to be at the heart of EVERY consultation body/exercise, at present they are excluded or actively blocked from taking part. It’s time ‘professionals’ started listening to the people that provide the majority of ‘care’ because WE have so much experience that is being overlooked in favour of people without any ‘actual’ knowledge of caring