Carers Legislation - Analysis of Consultation Responses

11 Other Comments

11.1 Sixty-eight responses contained additional information. Many of these provided background information on their organisation to help set the context of their response. Others used their own experience to illustrate key points they were making; or provided case studies to illustrate good practice examples; or referred to research undertaken by other organisations.

11.2 Many of these respondents welcomed the opportunity to respond to this consultation and contribute their views; some welcomed the consultation and its proposals to develop legislation for carers; some confirmed their support for other responses that had been submitted to this consultation.

11.3 A number of respondents also reiterated key points they raised in response to specific questions.

11.4 A small number commented on the wide diversity of carer groups, the different needs of these groups and/ or the need to ensure support is accessible to all carers regardless. Some referred to specific groups of carers such as LGBT, BME, and those caring for individuals with a terminal illness and raised specific issues that impact on carers within these groups.

11.5 Several respondents took the opportunity to raise a point not directly related to the consultation questions and these are summarised below.

• A carer/ user support organisation took the opportunity to request a Child Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) in order to ensure the Scottish Government's proposals for carer legislation are fully assessed in terms of their impact on the rights of children. Another referred to the need for an Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA).
• Another carer/ user support organisation suggested this was an appropriate time to review the Carers' Allowance.
• A professional body suggested the Scottish Government should produce a reader-friendly guide to provide carers and young carers with information about their rights under any new legislation and offering information on support services.
• There were calls from a small number of respondents, primarily carer/ user support organisations for the implementation of services to be monitored, with one noting concern over the outsourcing of services.

11.6 Two additional issues raised by a number of carer/ user support organisations were Hospital Discharge and Emergency and Anticipatory Care Planning.

11.7 Many of these organisations requested the Scottish Government introduce a duty on health boards to involve carers in hospital discharge planning and to ensure the care package for the patient is in place prior to discharge. Key reasons for this were that:

• Current practice across Scotland differs widely, for example, in the provision of access to information and support.
• There should be full and active involvement of carers from the point of admission to hospital.
• Discharge planning should take account of the level of care that carers are able to provide; and pay cognisance to other aspects of carers' lives such as other responsibilities, their employment and their ability to care etc.

11.8 A few also proposed that the Carers Support Plan should include a duty to incorporate anticipatory care planning.