Phil Hope Q&A for Carers

Replies

By angelica

Re: Phil Hope Q&A for Carers
Tue 3 Nov 2009 13:25

Is he going to be answering all the questions or a selected few? I'm using the word 'answer' in a very 'loose' way here since a politician's idea of answering a question usually does everything but!! In fact we could almost write the answers ourselves we've heard the same 'rubbish' spouted so often. Maybe we could start a thread to guess the answers before Mr Hope answers them.

Having said that i've lots of questions!!

Good one PRTC!

By woodstock

Re: Phil Hope Q&A for Carers
Tue 3 Nov 2009 13:33

Q.1 Mr Hope - have you been listening to what carers have to say and want answering or have you been tuning them out?

By angelica

Re: Phil Hope Q&A for Carers
Tue 3 Nov 2009 13:37

As a 24/7 sole carer of 20 years I am entitled to the huge sum of £53 odd CA a week (the lowest earnings replacement benefit, lower than even JSA), I have just had to threaten to go to the local press in order to get 17 hours direct payments for respite because my Local Authority has run out of money and is only providing critical care (i am literally housebound with my caree for the rest of the time) , i emailed my PCT under the Freedom of information Act to find out what had happened to the respite money announced in the Carers Mockery (sorry Strategy) to be told they couldnt identify the allocation (so much for local accountabilty!).

Now it looks like this Government are planning on scrapping AA , possibly DLA and probably CA.

Labour have been in power for 12 years. It had plenty of opportunity to improve carers' lives during the 'boom' years but did nothing to make a real diffrence to most of our lives.

Could Mr Hope tell us why carers should vote Labour at the next election?

By jeanette

Re: Phil Hope Q&A for Carers
Tue 3 Nov 2009 14:47

On June the ninth we had a hosted chat on here with Phil Hope. Lots of us sent in questions and only a few (carefully selected I bet) where answered. We where told the rest of the questions would be answered and as to now NO THEY HAVNT!!
I did an Epetition in January through to May which went to the appropriate department and received back what I concider to be NO answer to the petition but great party politicaL blurb !!
I wanted a straight easy to understand answer which would tell me what practical help and support I should be receiving!! Nothing has happened except a lot of talks and meetings!!! Do you remember the question about Early age dementia in a person who has a severe Learning disability? Nothing is happening Mr Hope NOTHING!!!!!

-------------------------

Hi jeanette, just to let you know that the ministers did follow up on missed questions from the previous chat and the responses appeared on the Carers Week website. My apologies that we didn't flag this up more clearly at the time. Everyone can view the previous questions and answers here: www.carersweek.org .

Michele (web team)

By doug

Re: Phil Hope Q&A for Carers
Tue 3 Nov 2009 17:44

couldnt get on page couldnt be found wonder why

By Gilly TI

Re: Phil Hope Q&A for Carers
Tue 3 Nov 2009 18:05

Same here Doug.
Rather unfortunate surname - Hope, as Carers Minister.
Perhaps it’s a case of Pandora's Box - "All that remains is Hope".

I would like to know:
What are carers being compensated for?
Carers provide 24/7 care but receive £53 per week in "compensation", as opposed to Care Workers who provide no more than 40 hours per week but receive more than the National Minimum Wage.
Nonsensical!
What is the Mr Hope’s logical explanation for this disparity?

By Putyuka

Re: Phil Hope Q&A for Carers
Wed 4 Nov 2009 18:01

A live in carer is UNDERPAID and not appreciated at all. There is no reward system to carers who work ongoingly for months/years,taking the minimal holiday possible. How can somebody recover after working 13-14 hours/day ON 14 HOURS/WEEK???? NO WAY. You do not value carers and the result will soon be felt. Lots of carers will leave for better jobs.

By woodstock

Re: Phil Hope Q&A for Carers
Wed 4 Nov 2009 18:11

Couldn't get on which page? You post questions here don't you? - just need to register to post which if you already post you don't need to do because you already have!

By magic fairy

Re: Phil Hope Q&A for Carers
Wed 4 Nov 2009 22:50

Hello Mr Hope, I like many others here have little faith in you doing the right thing or actually listening to what is required to enable carers to continue caring.

Everyone has a need for an income to sustian their existence, carers as you are well aware recieve minimal amounts of finance to sustian our lives.

Q; I recieve £93 a week made up from carers allowance, income support and a carers premium, I care 127 hours a week. my son aged 19 is due to be moved onto ESA rather than be a dependant of mine on income support. In this change over we are due to lose £82 a week for the first 14 weeks of the ESA claim, then Approximatly a £50 a week deficite from there on. How do the government think he costs so much less to keep because he is on ESA?

Q; He did not choose to be disabled- it is congenital- why should he be treated with the same contempt as people who cannot be bothered to work?

The goverment may as well be taking this money from me £93 leaving me £11 pounds a week. As for being a non dependant, he relies on me for his very existence. He cannot manage his own finances so it is up to me to cope with this dreadful situation.

For the fist time in my life at 43, I am considering breaking the law to earn money on the side, the £20 a week I am legally allowed to earn will not come near this deficit. Q what do you suggest I dont buy? As winter approches it is already a choice of heating or food.

This government fails people with disabilities and the people who love and care for them miserably, I personally would be utterlly ashamed to be in your position and be so ineffective . I do however thank you if you have even bothered to read this.

By woodstock

Re: Phil Hope Q&A for Carers
Thu 5 Nov 2009 00:38

I've got an idea!! Why doesn't Mr Hope ask us questions and we'll answer them?