Gordon Brown holds Citizens Jury for carers
The Prime Minister met with carers from across the country at a Citizens Jury on the future of social care policy, which was held in Leeds on 11 January.
He was joined by Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson and Care Services minister Ivan Lewis at this event, which follows the government's recent nationwide consultation of carers to inform the development of the new National Carer's Strategy.
Starting with a speech emphasizing the "huge contribution" that carers make to society, Gordon Brown said: "The first thing I want to do is pay tribute to all the carers in the whole of the United Kingdom.
"Every one of you who is a carer is a hero. Our society could not exist without you, Britain could not be the place it is without the goodness of so many people."
The Prime Minister met around 60 carers to listen to their ideas on policy changes and discuss their views on issues of key concern to carers, such as benefits, improved access to health and social care services and support to stay in employment.
The event was chaired by Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK, who said:
“This important consultation comes at a time when the Government is reviewing the whole system of social care. The National Carers Strategy and the Green Paper on long term care go hand-in-hand. The social care system needs to be radically overhauled, with a greater recognition of the central role that carers play in providing care to elderly and disabled people.
“It is a critical time for carers and their families. They have been ignored for too long. We need a strategy that delivers real change for carers and concrete improvements to their lives.”
The Citizens’ Jury scheme aims to help feed public opinion into government policy and was first announced by Gordon Brown in in his speech to the National Council of Voluntary Organisations in September 2007.
Related information
Watch a video of Gordon Brown's speech
Read the latest information and updates from the Department of Health on the New Deal for Carers - Carers Strategy review
Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People, took part in a live webchat on carers issues in Downing Street on 11 January. You can view the transcript here: Web chat with Anne McGuire