2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:27 pm on 17 May 2022.

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Photo of Gareth Davies Gareth Davies Conservative 2:27, 17 May 2022

Trefnydd, I'd like to call for a statement from the Deputy Minister for Social Services on the support for unpaid carers in Wales, which you might have seen as a headline on BBC Wales news today. A recent report from the Carers Trust Wales highlights the challenges faced by Wales's 370,000 unpaid carers, and it's worth remembering that figure—370,000. Carers Trust Wales recommends that health and social care workers do more to recognise and identify unpaid carers so that they can access bespoke support services.

They've also pointed out that almost half of carers of people living with dementia reported that their own health had suffered during the pandemic. There is concern that a lack of recognition of carers of people living with dementia, as well as the lack of regular formal review of their needs by health and social care workers can lead them to missing out on much-needed support before they reach crisis point. Therefore, Trefnydd, can we have a statement from the Deputy Minister for Social Services on the actions she is taking to identify these hidden carers and what further steps the Welsh Government will take to support Wales's army of unpaid carers who save the NHS around £8 billion each and every year?