Over 60 unpaid carers and professionals from the field of health and adult social care attended Carers Network’s AGM at the Beethoven Centre in Queen’s Park on Friday 13 December. The audience enjoyed a highly informative, thought provoking yet entertaining speech from respected NHS commentator Roy Lilley.

Roy used to be an unpaid carer for his mother and has chaired everything from major boards, to hospitals and health authorities. For over ten years he has written an eLetter that reaches the inboxes of 300,000 health and care managers in the UK and overseas. Roy is in a better position than most to know the challenges faced by the NHS in the current economic and political climate.

“The work that carers do, unpaid, unrewarded and often unnoticed, must be recognised – along with the NHS and social care – as the third service, where families, relatives and friends, put their lives on hold, in selfless dedication to caring for those the state has, too often, left behind. We should honour them, pay them, train them, support them and above all thank them for doing what most of us cannot. Apart from the emotional pressures and strains, carers fight a daily battle with bureaucracy, and a complicated system that looks designed to keep people out.  A carer-focussed redesign is long overdue. It’s a time to be bold and must hold the new government’s feet to the fire and make sure they honour their promises to find a permanent solution to the problems ten year of austerity has created for adult social care. It was an honour to spend, all too little time, with people I admire and from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”  Roy Lilley.

Roy’s speech was followed by a lively Q&A and the event finished with some festive cheer as attendees were able to enjoy a glass of wine and a mince pie.