National Carers Strategy
-Update -

The National Carers Strategy was published in February 1999, and since then there has been much debate by everyone involved in caring and carers issues about the way that recommendations will be taken forward in Scotland.

In September 1999 the Scottish Executive launched the `Programme for Government' which announced that the Strategy for Carers would be introduced in Scotland during 2000. The deputy Minister for Community Care, lain Gray announced an `action plan' for Scotland, in a paper called `Strategy for Carers in Scotland'. This set out the main areas for consideration.

The paper (which is available in full from the Scottish Executive website at www.scotland.gov.uk ) states that these measures are `very much a first step towards addressing carers needs. The Scottish Executive is committed to ensuring that these measures translate into real difference in carers lives.' It also states that ` Carers Issues are now being given a higher profile. That can largely be attributed to years of campaigning by carers organisations. They have given carers a real voice and we will continue to listen to that voice as we take forward carers issues in the years to come.

The Coalition of Carers in Scotland has produced a new booklet in the Carers Strategy in Scotland, and copies are available free from the Carers Centre.

As you may know, over the past year the development of a City of Aberdeen Carers Strategy has been discussed and developed in a process which involved many carers representatives of groups, statutory and voluntary organisations. The draft version of the Strategy was widely distributed to people who are carers and/or have an interest in carers issues. Many responses were received, containing many useful comments and ideas. The final version of the Strategy was agreed by the Local Authority and Health Board, and has recently been printed. Thanks to funding from First Aberdeen. The Strategy is a guide to what was agreed as important issues for carers, and will be a useful tool in future planning of services and carer support services.

Thank you to everyone who was involved in the process of developing this, and for ALL the comments. The Strategy is not a one-off, it will be reviewed and updated regularly, so keep your ideas coming in?

If you would like a copy of the Aberdeen City Carers Strategy please drop in to the Carers Centre in Belmont Street and pick one up. Alternatively call the centre on 01224 646677 and we will send one out.

There have been some discussions within the Scottish Executive about setting up a system of electronic prescriptions. Such a system would completely change the way in which you receive your medicines. Briefly, it would probably mean that when you visit your doctor and need medication, instead of giving you a paper prescription, he/she would use a computer to send an electronic message containing information about the medicines you need. This message could be read by the chemist of your choice and you would then go to that chemist to collect the medicines the doctor has prescribed.

The University of Aberdeen is carrying out a project to look at issues associated with electronic prescriptions and we'd like to know what you think. Are electronic prescriptions a good idea? Are there any issues which would be of particular concern to carers if electronic prescriptions were introduced? How would you feel about pharmacists possibly having access to some of the confidential information contained in the medical notes of the person you are caring for?

The researchers working on this project would very much appreciate your help in trying to answer some of these questions. If you would like to contribute you're views on electronic prescriptions and how they are likely to affect carers or the people they care for, please contact:

National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland)

The NSF (Scotland) Grampian Carers project encompasses an area from Laurencekirk in the south to Forres in the north and from Fraserburgh in the east to Braemar in the west.

NSF provide a service to carers of those suffering from schizophrenia and other allied mental illnesses both on a one to one basis either in the office in Aberdeen or in the carer's own home and via community-based carers groups.

Carers groups are located in Stonehaven, Banchory and Fraserburgh (Buchan) and combined carer and service user groups are located in Aberdeen, Banff and Elgin.

A new carers group will start in Cornhill Hospital on Thursday 23^rd March 2000 7-8.30pm

Carelinkline is based in the Aberdeen office and offers information, advice and support on all aspects of mental illness. Telephone 0345-089034 during office hours Monday to Friday.

A weekly surgery at Cornhill Hospital, is commencing on Monday 27th March 2000 for 2-4pm. This weekly surgery is basically a `drop-in' for carers. Staff from the Aberdeen office will be in attendance.

The two projects above, based at Cornhill Hospital will take place in the Advocacy offices and will be signposted from reception.

Roddie Wood, NSF (Scotland) Carers Support Worker will offer contact for carers, based in the Princess Royal Trust Carers Centre 24-28 Belmont Street, Aberdeen on Wednesday afternoons 1.30 -3.30pm from 10th May.

Please telephone the Carelinkline 0345 089034 for further details of all the Carers Groups.