Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Heléna Herklots CBE, said:
“I welcome the report published today by the Assembly’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, which outlines the experiences of carers since the introduction of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
“It is clear from the Committee’s findings that the rights promised to carers by the Act have failed to be fully implemented and that for some carers, things have even got worse.
“The Act gives carers a legal right to an assessment of their own needs for care and support, separate from the assessment of the needs of the person for whom they care. However, too few have been able to access these assessments, too few are then turning into support and there is a lack of information available when assessments are being refused.
“I fully support all of the Committee’s recommendations, particularly on the need for increased awareness of the help and support available to carers and for the Welsh Government to prepare a clear action plan to address the evidenced failings in the implementation of the Act.
“I hope that the Welsh Government will respond positively and constructively to the report and take forward the Committee’s vital recommendations.”
