Background

Carers UK’s ‘Back Me Up’ report, catalogued the often very serious consequences for carers and the people they care for if there are non-existent or unresponsive emergency support services and the carer is faced with an emergency.  It highlights instances where carers with life threatening emergencies spent hours of delay desperately trying to organise replacement care while other carers were unable to be with family members at a time of bereavement for the same reason.  Even a simple delay such as being stuck in a traffic jam can have serious consequences if you are a carer.  The findings of the report were taken on board by the Government and in the ‘New Deal for Carers’ announced on 21st February 2007 £25 million pounds has been allocated to councils across the country to set up Emergency Respite Schemes.  Birmingham City Councils share is £654000.