Carers chance to quiz health chiefs

Carers get chance to quiz health chiefs over Care Act changes

Health and social care workers in Cheshire East are staging seven events for unsung heroes who devote their lives to caring for loved ones.

Carers of all age groups are invited to attend but numbers are limited and they are urged to register.

The New Year events are organised by Cheshire East Council with NHS Eastern Cheshire and South Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) will be given a directory of services and invited to tell the three organisations how they can improve the support they offer.

The council and CCGs will explain how they intend discharging new duties under the Care Act to:

• Prevent care needs becoming more serious
• Give carers the information they need to make good decisions about care and support
• Ensure carers have a good range of providers to choose from.

Visitors to the January events will learn about support that the council and CCGs have already put in place, such as paying for carers to have a break from their duties and setting up an adult services innovation fund for organisations finding new ways to meet the needs of carers and those they look after.

Cllr Janet Clowes, council portfolio holder for care and health in the community, said: "We and our health partners are staging these events right across Cheshire East to give carers an opportunity to tell us about the support they need and to help us shape a revised carers' strategy that helps us meet our responsibilities under the Care Act."

Her words were echoed by Dr Paul Bowen, Executive Chair of NHS Eastern Cheshire CCG: "We want carers to tell us how best we can work with them in the future."

Speakers will include Eastern Cheshire CCG chief officer Jerry Hawker, associate director of commissioning Jacki Wilkes, South Cheshire CCG chief officer Simon Whitehouse, council director of adult social care and independent living Brenda Smith, and Cllr Clowes.

Events are as follows:

• Monday 19 January, 1pm – 3pm, Congleton Library, Market Square CW12 1ET
• Tuesday 20 January, 1pm – 3pm, Crewe Arms Hotel, Nantwich Road, Crewe CW2 6DN
• Tuesday 20 January, 6.30pm – 8.30pm, Sandbach Town Hall, High Street, Sandbach CW11 1AX
• Wednesday 21 January, 6.30pm – 8.30pm, Crewe Arms Hotel, Nantwich Road, Crewe CW2 6DN.
• Thursday 22 January, 11pm – 1pm, Curzon Cinema, Knutsford Civic Centre, Toft Road, Knutsford WA16 0PE
• Thursday 22 January, 6.30pm – 8.30pm, Macclesfield Town Hall, SK10 1EA
• Friday 23 January, 1pm – 3pm, Macclesfield Town Hall, SK10 1EA.

As places are limited, carers wishing to attend should call Jo Hughes on 01625 663350 or email her at jo.hughes3@nhs.netjo.hughes3@nhs.net> by Friday 9 January.

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