Jim Dobbin cares for carers

Jim Dobbin MP

Jim Dobbin, MP for Heywood and Middleton, is one of more than 100 MPs to lend his support to carers of people with mental health problems.

Mr Dobbin has signed a parliamentary early day motion (similar to an online petition) pledging his support for the work that mental health charity Rethink is doing to recognise the difficulties faced by carers.

In doing so, Mr Dobbin publicly acknowledges that mental health carers are not always consulted about an individual’s treatment and states his belief that carers have a right to be listened to by health professionals. He hopes that the revised carers’ strategy, expected this summer, will recognise the vital contribution made by mental health carers.

Mr Dobbin says: “For too long, carers of people with severe mental illness have not been given the support and appreciation they deserve. I am pleased to lend my support to mental health charity Rethink’s campaign to help them.”

Jane Harris, head of campaigns at Rethink, added: “Carers work tirelessly and save the government billions of pounds. Carers of people with severe mental illness face particular challenges and it is vital that these are addressed in the forthcoming carers’ strategy.”