Evaluation of the National Carers’ Strategy demonstrator sites programme

The Centre for International Research on Care, Labour and Equalities (CIRCLE) has recently published a resaerch report ‘New Approaches to Supporting Carers’ Health and Well-being: evidence from the National Carers’ Strategy Demonstrator Sites programme’.

The Centre evaluated the impact and effectiveness of three types of interventions led by Primary Care Trusts and Local Authorities in England:

  • health checks for carers
  • innovations in breaks and respite for carers, and
  • enhanced NHS support for carers.

There were twenty-five Demonstrator Sites and CIRCLE mapped their activities, assessed the impact of the interventions on carers, and reviewed a range of costs, benefits and organisational impacts of this major DH investment, also a commitment made in the 2008 National Carers Strategy.