Caring about carers: a national strategy

On 10 June 1998, the prime minister announced that the government would be consulting on the first national carers strategy.

Caring about carers: a national strategy for carers was subsequently published on 1 January 1999 and it contained three strands:

• information
• support
• care.

Information

The government committed to a new charter on what people could expect from long-term care services and would ensure that there was better information on the services and support available.

Support

The government proposed that carers should be involved in the planning and provision of services and that local carer organisations should be consulted.

Care

The government observed that carers needed to have their own needs met and outlined new powers for local authorities to provide services for carers. This included helping carers to take breaks from their caring responsibilities.

The government pledged a new special grant of £140m to be used over 3 years to help provide respite to carers.

The strategy's publication delivered new rights for carers through the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 and the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004.