Written question WQ82815
- Asked by
- Mabon ap GwynforPlaid
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 10 days
Question
What support will the Welsh Government offer carers of people living with motor neurone disease?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Social Services
We recognise pressures, including on the mental wellbeing of unpaid carers, have increased as a result of the pandemic.
On 8 June, we announced £3m increase the availability of respite services across Wales – £1.75m will be shared by the 22 local authorities to meet the demand for traditional and innovative respite services; the remaining £1.25m will be used to develop a new all-Wales short breaks fund. We have commissioned research from Carers Trust Wales and academics at Swansea and Bangor universities to provide a potential “road map” for the development of opportunities and to identify good practice.
On 23 March, we launched our new Strategy for Unpaid Carers setting out the four national priorities for carers and our vision for progressing support for carers of all ages. We are working with the Carers Ministerial Advisory Group, and Carers Engagement Group, to develop a delivery plan, which we aim to launch this autumn. We are also developing a new Carers’ Charter.
We recognise the significant challenges people living with motor neurone disease face and the additional impact COVID 19 has placed on them, their carers, families and friends.
The Welsh Government provides funding to a number of health boards and hospices in Wales providing services and clinics for those living with motor neurone disease. For example, in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, people with MND are referred to care co-ordinators covering the three specialist palliative care teams and they have access to the Walton specialist unit in Liverpool.
The Neurological Conditions Delivery Plan sets out the Welsh Government’s vision for people living with neurological conditions in Wales. We work in partnership with the Neurological Conditions Implementation Group and health boards to ensure all those with neurological conditions (including MND) receive the help and support they require at the appropriate time: https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2019-02/neurological-conditions-delivery-plan-july-2017.pdf