The Community Care & Health (Scotland) Act 2002 recognised, for the first time, that Carers should be treated as 'Key partners in the provision of Care' and that professionals should include Carers in the treatment of their patient Research has evidenced that for the majority of Carers their first point of contact with services is through health, either Primary or Acute Care.

The Act also tasked local health boards to devise a Carer Information Strategy and Forth Valley NHS Board has devised such a Strategy.

This strategy will provide information to Carers (and those who may not realise they are Carers) at each point of contact with services. It will also signpost Carers to local organisations, such as the Carers Centre, who will be able to give them additional support. The Strategy will also raise awareness of Carers issues to professionals in the health and social sectors. The Strategy is currently being implemented throughout Forth Valley.

For further information on the strategy please contact Stephen French at Forth Valley NHS on 01786.457241 or Moira Taylor at the Carers Centre on 01786 447003.