	CARERS of WEST LOTHIAN Providing Support, Information and a A Voice for Carers in West Lothian

Government Action for Carers

The Scottish Executive has made unpaid carers a priority focus for action.

A new unit called CARE 21 will advise national and local government what changes are needed now to provide better community care support in ten years time and beyond.

The first task of CARE 21 is to research future needs of carers and make recommendations for change. OPM (Office for Public Management) has been recruited to lead a comprehensive study which includes bringing together all reports published to date on the needs of carers, and involving carers to identify key priorities for change.

Seb Fischer from VOCAL in Edinburgh, and a member of the Coalition of Carers in Scotland, has been seconded to the Scottish Executive to guide the work of OPM and ensure carer participation and the involvement of carer groups.

We will soon be sending questionnaires to local carers to allow you to participate with your views and your experience in this important work.

Carer involvement always makes for better policy and practice! So we hope you take the time to participate when the survey lands on your doorstep. At the Carer Centre we are always willing to help.

If you have access to the internet, you can read all about Care 21 and fill in the survey online - go to www.opm.co.uk/scottishcarers.

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