It was Carers’ Rights Day yesterday, I’m sure you saw er… no media coverage about it. Fear not! The We Care Campaign and the Carers Trust have produced a powerful report that is as infuriating as it is eye opening. You can read it here.

It doesn’t feel like it, but unpaid carers have certain rights, namely:

• The right to request unpaid Carer’s leave
• The right to request flexible working
• The right to register as a carer at your doctor’s surgery
• The right to request a flu jab
• Protection against discrimination or harassment
• The right to request a carer’s assessment
• The right to be consulted when the person you care for in discharged from hospital

The quotes in the report were the highlights (or lowlights depending on how you look at it) below are a few that stood out:

On the right to get a Carers’ Assessment:

‘When I had my [parent carer’s needs] assessment, the only thing they did was refer me to the parent carer support group – which I had set up!”

“I was told I’m doing a good job so don’t need support.”

“My son is 16 and was registered disabled aged 5 and yet I still have to fight constantly for every bit of help (…)! The system stinks, and it’s sending me to an early grave.”

On the Transitions for carers from children to adult social care services:

“I’ve been told nothing about transition to adult services (…) I am still none the wiser as to what will happen to my son once he turns 18. I am terrified.”

“We still have no idea how young carers can get a statutory transitions assessment.”

On the right to be consulted about Hospital discharge:

“The amount of unsafe discharges that we see is unbelievable. The mind boggles. People being discharged in the middle of the night, sent home needing support and nothing is in place for them or their carer. So many times, the person just ends up back in hospital.”

“My mum had been in hospital but when she was ready for discharge she
was sent home with no consultation at all. I just opened the door and mum
was there being dropped off by the ambulance (…) I ended up
taking mum back to A&E and they had to start the discharge
process all over again.”

On The right to request Carer’s Leave

“It’s all well and good saying you can have unpaid leave but really in this day and age, who can actually afford to go a whole week without pay?”

“We met an MP in Parliament who is an employment lawyer – she didn’t even know about the right!”

“I’m not saying anything (about being a carer) to prospective employers – not a chance.”

What the actual F?! As the young people say (I think).

To recap, the people who have a legal obligation to provide help- don’t – because they can’t and/or have no idea where to get said help from leaving carers and the vulnerable people they care for stranded. And the government is not enforcing these legal obligations. Got it.

This is all kinds of ridiculous, breathtaking incompetence and completely infuriating. This is what all the not-yet-carers have to look forward to, and what everyone else has to deal with everyday. This is why we have to keep fighting. Fighting to access what we have a legal right to, continue to demand what we deserve and will all need at some point in our lives.

I’ll leave you with this thought – if a ‘right’ is inaccessible, or not enforced, is it a right at all? Leave your thoughts or philosophical dissertations in the comments 🙂