Bid to ease burden for carers

Shropshire now has 30,000 carers who provide unpaid care by looking after ill, frail or disabled relatives or friends, it has been revealed.

The figure represents 10.6 per cent of the population of Shropshire which is higher than the national average of 10 per cent.

In a bid to help the large number of carers across the county, a new strategy has been launched by Shropshire County Council and the Primary Care Trust.

This is in partnership with the Community Council of Shropshire, Red Cross Young Carers and Crossroads.

The aim of the strategy is to offer the best possible help, support and information to Shropshire's many carers.

As part of the strategy there is now a helpline available providing carers with an easy way of finding out what help is available to them.

The strategy also sets out how carers will be supported in Shropshire and how resources will be spent in the future on the themes which matter including information, choice, having a voice, maintaining good health, emotional and financial support and fair and equitable service.

A spokesman for the strategy said: "There are 30,000 carers in Shropshire - much higher than the national average.

"Carers can be any age but they all provide unpaid care by looking after an ill, frail or disabled family member, friend or partner.

"Many people may not see themselves as carers," the spokesman said.

"They are ordinary people who have an extraordinary task in caring for people in their lives and have to juggle their caring role to enable them to do ordinary things which others take for granted."

Any carer who would like to know more about what help is available to them can contact the Shropshire Carers Helpline on (01743) 341995.

By Sarah Bullock