Oral Answers to Questions

Mary Macleod Excerpts

Tuesday 17th July 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Burns]

I give the hon. Lady that assurance. Specialised commissioning will be carried out through the NHS Commissioning Board.

[Mary Macleod (Brentford and Isleworth) (Con)]

T10. I commend the Government for their plans to improve the care and support system, especially for an ageing population. How will the changes make a real difference to carers, particularly those supporting people with Alzheimer’s and dementia? Is there more we can do to support them?

[Paul Burstow]

I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her question. She is right: we have to do as much as we possibly can to recognise and support family carers. In the White Paper, we have set out a number of steps, not least investment of £400 million to fund more breaks for carers. We are working with the Royal College of General Practitioners to make sure that they are more aware of carers and can identify more carers. We are doing work to make sure we have earlier, quicker diagnosis in more areas of dementia so that people get the support they need. Most important of all, we are making sure that hospitals, as part of the services they provide for people with dementia, actually deliver on NICE guidance on supporting family members. Finally, the Government are legislating, for the first time ever, on support for the needs of carers.