Cynon Valley AM Christine Chapman has paid tribute to the excellent work carried out by hundreds of thousands of carers in Wales on a daily basis. Mrs Chapman raised the issue during questions to the Welsh First Minister and that the efforts of carers often went unrecognised. Referring to the Welsh Government’s plans for the Assembly term, Mrs Chapman said “I welcome the strong commitment in the programme for government to ensure that Welsh carers are provided with a strong voice”.
It is believed that there are 350,000 carers in Wales. Together, it is calculated that they save the Welsh economy the equivalent of a second NHS a year – £5.69 billion.
Mrs Chapman also raised measures taken by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council to help and support carers in her constituency. These measures, part of the Council’s Carers Support Project, include stress-busting workshops for carers and ensuring that they have access to the appropriate information.
The First Minister said: “The programme for government commits us to refreshing the carers strategy by April 2013, and that will provide us with an opportunity to look at examples of good practice along the lines that you have just outlined in RCT”.
