North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has today called on the Welsh Government to invest in third sector organisations providing vital support to unpaid carers across Wales.
Mr Isherwood made the plea during a Short Debate in the Welsh Parliament this afternoon on providing safe and accessible homes for those with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
He emphasised the crucial role unpaid carers play and the need for them to access support services.
He said:
“As stated by Carers Wales, unpaid carers are saving the Welsh Government £33 million every day of the pandemic. But this comes at a high personal and economic cost.
“A report by the MND Association found that a third of MND carers spent more than 100 hours per week providing care –more than double the average working week. 45% received no benefits at all.
“And the reduction or closure of many local services because of the pandemic has made a bad situation far worse.
“Unpaid carers are under increasing pressure to provide more care with less respite and formal support.
“We must therefore recognise and invest in third sector organisations providing key support services to unpaid carers, particularly during this difficult time.
“And once local authorities’ duties are fully reinstated, it is important they are monitored to ensure they are supporting carers’ rights by offering all unpaid carers an assessment to see what support packages might be available to them, including respite care.”