MSP Welcomes Extra Funding to Support Carers in Grampian

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the news that the Scottish Government is making extra funding available to strengthen support services for carers in Grampian.

Over the next three years, an additional £9 million will be provided to NHS Boards across Scotland to bolster the implementation of Carer Information Strategies. This includes £822,000 for NHS Grampian from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

Carers will benefit from greater awareness and recognition of their role, improved provision of information and available support, with more access to training to help them cope with their caring role.

Commenting, Mr. Stevenson said:

“I am delighted to see the SNP Government providing this funding to ensure that carers here in Banff & Buchan and across Scotland are given the best possible support. This is another demonstration of the SNP delivering on their commitments to elderly and vulnerable people in Scotland.

"Carers perform a crucial role in Scottish society in caring for some of our most vulnerable groups. It is vital that we identify people who give much of their time so selflessly to care for a loved one and we must ensure that these people are offered the right information, training and ongoing support.

"We currently have an ageing population, with almost 7% of the population of Aberdeenshire over the age of 75. Because of this many carers are elderly themselves. We need to ensure that carers do not neglect their own health and are given care and support themselves when they need it.”

-ends-

Notes to Editors:

NHS Carer Information Strategies - Funding Allocation

2008-09 2009-10 2010-2011
Ayrshire and Arran 77 231 231
Borders 22 68 113
Dumfries & Galloway 32 97 161
Fife 69 206 343
Forth Valley 53 159 265
Grampian 91 274 457
Greater Glasgow & Clyde 245 734 1,224
Highland 65 195 326
Lanarkshire 108 323 539
Lothian 136 408 680
Orkney 6 17 28
Shetland 6 18 30
Tayside 79 237 395
Western Isles 8 24 40
Scottish Ambulance Service3 9 15
Scotland 1,000 3,000 5,000