Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:10 pm on 16 July 2019.
Thank you, First Minister. Carers groups are invaluable to many, and one of my constituents, Chris Kemp-Philp, told a recent event here in the Senedd that Newport Carers Forum saved her life, and it’s like having a second supportive family. Last week, Chris and other members of the Newport Carers Forum came to the public gallery to watch my short debate on caring for our carers. The forum is a vital support network for adult carers, people whose contribution to society is often overlooked. There’s no doubt that we couldn't do without carers. Sadly, many of them feel undervalued, and that was evident to me when I visited them yesterday in Newport to discuss carers. We know that figures of carers are underestimated and they’re growing. The 16,000 carers in Newport face similar issues to the 370,000 carers across Wales. Respite is vital in avoiding care breakdown. Reductions in respite packages hugely impact on carers. What action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that carers receive the right respite that they need?