This consultation is now closed as of  22 March 2019.

I am very pleased to introduce East Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership Carers’ Strategy 2019-2022.  We have welcomed the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 and are fully committed to its objectives to ensure that adult carers and young carers are supported to manage their caring responsibilities with timely and appropriate support to enable them to care in good health and to have a life alongside caring, and for our young carers to have a childhood similar to other children in East Dunbartonshire with the same future opportunities.

East Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership is committed to delivering the best outcomes for adult carers and young carers and for the person they care for.  We recognise that caring for family and friends can be a natural part of all of our lives however can be both emotionally, financially and physically challenging.  We recognise the role and contribution carers make both to the person they support and within their communities within East Dunbartonshire.

The strategy is the result of more than more than a year of consultation and engagement with carers, carers representatives, and the involvement of partners across the third sector, Education and from the Health and Care Partnership.

East Dunbartonshire Carers’ Strategy 2019 establishes how we hope to achieve our aims and focus upon six key strategic priorities and outcomes including timely provision of information and support, ensuring that carers physical, emotional and wellbeing is supported, with breaks from caring for those who need this service and a focus upon our young carers.

The challenges are significant particularly when considered against current uncertainties, rising demand upon health and social care services and requirements for efficiency however we are confident that working together in genuine partnership we can achieve what we have set out to do.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has given of their time to attend meetings and events and to those who have shared their experiences, and offered their expertise and commitment to improving the lives of carers in East Dunbartonshire. I would also like to thank all of our statutory and voluntary partners for their commitment and support to the implementation of the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 within East Dunbartonshire.