About this blog
Hi, I’m Gordon Conochie, Joint Policy and Parliamentary Officer at The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, the largest provider of services for carers in the UK and Crossroads Care, the leading provider of respite services for carers.
In my role I ensure that the issues affecting carers and our networks are represented at a national policy level, so as to improve support for carers.
I often joke that I got this job because at the interview I said my brother-in-law was Gordon Brown. And he is, but instead of running the country, he runs two pharmacies in Scotland. Still, at least he listens to me…
I’d like to give an insight into our work around influencing policy for carers and I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions.
If you would like to support the campaigning and support work we do for carers, you can donate here.
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Hi Gordon
Enjoyed the blog and it gives a greater insight to what you do and what is being achieved. Well done – keep going.
He listens to you does he – how’d you manage that?!
Nice photo though – at least you have one eye open unlike other members in the family that shut their eyes to have photos taken.
Anyway – good job – keep it up- you are making a differnce.
Hi Gordon
Great blog mate, you know you have made it when they allow you to do a blog eh!!!
joking aside, you are doing a great job and i am proud to say i have your aquintance. Many rights to be righted for Carers in this country and when it comes to political skills and requirements for this process, carers have a realible advocate in you.
good job, keep it up and we need to catch up soon
Stewart
Hi Gordon.
I have been a full time carer for over twenty two years, in that time i have had only one full time break, that wa s18 years ago. I have been told that my wife could go into a car home for a week, but none have the the things that are a must such as a closomat loo electric chair and bed.
When i have asked why someonecould not stay in our home i get the word cost bandied about, i am sure i could get a retired nurse to live in for a week.
I am sure there are many others in the same postion as me, i am 71 and fairly fit but this is problem that no one seems to want to tackle.
Regards.
Michael
Michael Hello,
I too am 72YRS SO KNOW HOW AGE ADDS TO THE STRAIN.
which Local authority are youresident in?
Lack of money is always said to be the problem but not always the truth as the system is not always explained accurately!!
If you want to contact me and I can pass on anything I have found out then mail me on my email above.
SUE
Llantrisant Mid Glamorgan
I enjoy reading your blog Gordon….Anything to raise awareness to the plight of 6 million carers should be welcomed…
hi,
I am new to this site and new to post as a Carers Champion and any information on the Princes Trust for Carers and Royal College of GP Self Assessment Tool Kit would be most appreciated and i am going to be championing this for Mid Essex PCT.
Thanks
Amazing Article , I considered it marvelous
I look ahead to more similar postings like this one. Does your website have a RSS I can subscribe to for new postings?
Hi glusapFup, thanks!
You can subscribe to the blog by RSS. See under ‘Subscribe by RSS’, just scroll down and look on the right.
Liking the blog very much and hope it raises awareness of carers and their often overwhelming difficulties.
It’s not only the curtailment of services that causes problems but the lack of any prior notification. I’m 80 and the sole carer for my wife, 78, who has dementia. I do have AM and PM help and a once a week trip to the day hospital is a welcome break…but… the DH used to give my wife lunch, it was some time before I found out that they’d stopped doing so and that I was letting her go hungry; she used to go at 8.30 AM and return at c.4.45 PM, now it’s 9.00 to 3.00 PM – incidentally the staff at the DH are fine and no blame attaches to them.
There are also problems which affect rural areas particularly: like, I gather, many trusts our local NHS has withdrawn respite support. Try identifying a suitable home from the few within an area of about 30m radius – not much choice and a long, wasted journey to check each possibility and tiresome if the ‘target’ has let their available room to a LS resident in the meantime. The lack of any chance to plan a break, the stress of constantly having to look for new accommodation and the impossibility of my wife’s forming any relationship with staff make it almost useless to attempt a break.
The result? On Thursday I had a breakdown which left me lying on a wet footpath until some kind souls picked me up and gave me a lift to the doctor (who understands, and does what he can ).
North Yks CC keep some sort of a register but it’s very inadequately organised and the national Quality Control people have poor judgement or are easily hoodwinked.
Please, ahead of the election, let us carers squeeze what clear undertakings we can out of the main parties and vote as a group – indications are we could make a difference.
what about the unpaid over sixty five carers, we seem to be right out in the cold, i have brought this up before i know, i presume one of the reasons for this is it’s a hard nut to crack, there are not a lot of miles in the old.
The likely cut backs in the coming months will be an even bigger worry for us.
Our area is allready being affected, no checkup visits by social workers just a lot paperwork to fill in, we did have help from them, to many of the staff they hire are not interested in the sort of work we want done, so we have to
pay for our own.
Regards Michael.
PS it is a good blog
Hi, Gordon Conochie,i have recently completed my NVQ LEVEL 2
I am looking for voluntry leading into full time work as a carer or similar …can you help me/guide me pls !!
I live in the barking essex
Hi, i have recently become really interested in working as a support care worker, due to my ex girlfriend being a care support worker and listening to her discussions about her job etc. Plus i have recently become unemployed so i thought i would give it a go, so i made some enquiries at my local area office in Barnsley and i have an interview this coming monday. I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice or a little insight into the job as although i want to do this, i just feel a little apprehensive being a guy going into what seems to be a predominantly female industry.
hi im a young carer my self and im only 10! i know what its like to be a young carere im liveing in cwmafan thx for all suport cross roads by the way love the blogs!!!
Hello Cariad
Thanks for your post. We’re really glad you like the blogs. Have you been on http://www.youngcarers.net? This is our interactive website where you can get lots more information, support and advice online and meet other young carers in similar situations across the UK.
Thanks again for your comments and take care,
Danni
thx havent been on th blog for a while thx for telling me about the web site im happy now can u tell me if u have herd about these illnes’s one of them is Fibromyalgia and the other is ocularjiririckrisis well im not shure hot to spell it sorry ive got lots of friends because of crossroads