Local MP and former Minister of State for Care, Dame Caroline Dinenage, spoke this week in favour of a Government amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill which will ensure that carers are consulted when a patient they care for is discharged from hospital.
This places a new duty on NHS hospital trusts in England to ensure that unpaid carers are involved as soon as feasible when plans for the patient’s discharge are being made. The amendment covers all carers of adults needing care and support following hospital discharge, including health care support. This means that young carers looking after adults would also be covered.
Earlier this month, a cross-party group of Peers in the House of Lords won a historic amendment which would have made sure that carers’ rights were retained and enhanced at the point of discharge, which would otherwise have been lost as key legislation was being repealed. The Peers who supported this included Baroness Pitkeathley, Lord Young, Baroness Hollins, Baroness Meacher and Baroness Brinton.
Carers UK’s research ‘Carers experiences of hospital discharge – Discharge to Assess’ found that the majority of whom were providing over 50 hours of care per week:
More than half of carers (56%) providing significant care were not involved in decisions about hospital discharge.
Two thirds of carers (66%) did not feel listened to about their willingness and ability to care by healthcare professionals.
A majority of carers (61%) were not given enough information and advice to care safely and well at the point of hospital discharge for the person they care for.
Most carers (60%) say they received insufficient support to protect the health and wellbeing of the patient or their own health at the point of hospital discharge.
Commenting on the amendment, Caroline, who was Care Minister 2018-2020 and co-chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group for Carers said:
“Unpaid carers are so often invisible and I am so pleased with this amendment, which means the Government is taking steps to further protect their rights. There is still so much more to do to recognise and support the millions of unpaid carers and I am determined to work for further progress.”
Commenting on the inclusion of the amendment in the Bill in the Commons, Helen Walker, Chief Executive, Carers UK, said:
“We are pleased that the Government has considered this and listened to the strength of feeling about it from carers. Unpaid carers shared their experiences with us and our evidence has shown how devastating hospital discharge can be for carers if they are not consulted, involved or given the right information and support to care safely and well.
We are delighted that they will now be involved as soon as is feasible when planning for the patient’s discharge begins. We look forward to working with Government and the NHS to ensure that this is delivered well for carers.”
Baroness Pitkeathley, who led a cross-party group of Peers seeking to retain carers’ rights, said:
“We owe a debt of gratitude to the millions of families providing unpaid care and especially so during the pandemic. It is entirely just that they retain their rights to be involved at the point of hospital discharge. This vital amendment ensures that carers are involved at a “make or break” time.
“I’m grateful to my fellow Peers who have helped achieve this victory for the millions of unpaid carers.”
