AQW 50798/11-16

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 12/11/2015
Answered On Date: 24/11/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (i) what targets have been set for Health and Social Care Trusts to help identify older carers; and (ii) whether any changes have been made to those targets in each of the last three years.

Answer:

No targets have been set for Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts regarding the identification of older carers.

The Carers and Direct Payments Act (NI) 2002 imposed a statutory duty on HSC Trusts to make information on the right to a carers assessment widely available, and to notify carers directly, where they become known to the Trust. Departmental Guidance Circular HSS (ECCU) 4/2006 requires that HSC Trust staff are particularly proactive in identifying the presence of older carers.