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BURSTOW CHALLENGES PCT BOSSES TO ACCOUNT FOR SPENDING ON CARERS
October 23, 2009 12:00 AM
The borough's 19,000 carers are being left in the dark by local health bosses over how a £364,000 fund for carers is being spent.
Local Liberal Democrat MP, Paul Burstow, has challenged PCT bosses to come clean on how they have spent their share of £50 million fund to support carers. Requests from the MP have met a wall of silence and Sutton and Merton PCT is one of a handful of PCTs to fail to meet its legal obligations under the Freedom of Information Act and provide the information to carers charity the Princes Royal Trust.
Sutton and Merton PCT were allocated £364,352 to spend on carers services in 2009/10 and a further £726,230 in 2010/11. Research by the carers charity the Princes Royal Trust suggest that as much as £40 million of the £50 million has not found its way to carers services. 80% of new monies given by government to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in 2009/10 have not been used to increase support for carers as was intended.
Mr Burstow first wrote to the PCT asking for a breakdown of its spending plans in July, he chased again in September and most recently earlier this month.
Commenting, Paul Burstow MP said, "There appears to be a lot of confusion in PCTs about how they have used their share of the £50 million. It is clear that not all the money has made it through to services supporting carers. This must be sorted out and the Government must give a lead by telling PCTs how much of next years £100 million they have to spend on carers.
"It can't be right that local PCT bosses have failed to respond to a freedom of information request and the local MP. It gives the impression that the PCT is at best incompetent and at worst has something to hide. Either way its time that PCT bosses spelt out where the money has gone."
ENDS
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