AT OUR well attended June meeting our guest speaker was Mrs Valerie Minns who kindly travelled all the way from Lancashire to share her experiences as a carer, trustee for National Rethink and an advocate.
Valerie informed the group of the Carers Charter to be published the next day as part of Carers’ Week, for which she mentioned that the chief executive of Rethink Paul Jenkins was expected to be on television and she herself was primed to talk to jou
rnalists on the subject.
This would be a key document for all carers not just within mental health.
Valerie also discussed the forthcoming changes to the Care Programme Approach and how this may affect carers and sufferers. There is concern as to what those currently receiving standard CPA, as opposed to enhanced, will receive in the future as their package of care. She also gave members an invaluable insight into the life of a carer of someone suffering schizophrenia. She talked about her own battles to gain an adequate level of help and support for her son. Often she had to get over the barriers to communication when 'confidentiality' issues arise.
Also the dogged determination needed to fight for your rights as a carer and those of your relative involved with mental health services. Valerie encourages people to join National Rethink and support their local Rethink groups.
For further information about the Care Programme Approach contact the Rethink National Advice Service on 020897468 14. They have recently produced a helpful fact sheet about the new CPA.
The full article contains 260 words and appears in Harrogate Advertiser newspaper.
