Ms Zoe Hughes:

In response to the question as to how people get their supports, one of the key questions that is really important is whether there is a way to involve family carers' issues in the formal education of health and social care professionals, regardless of a GP, a nurse, a speech and language therapist or whoever else. As Mr. Dunne said, very often people do not necessarily know they are carers, and until they identify as such they will not necessarily search online for carer support. That is really important. Perhaps there is a way to bring in a module on carers, support for carers and the issues facing them. I am a social work professional. We have often had social work students placed with us and we supervise them while on placement. Very often they come in not really knowing what a family carer is or what the challenges are. They leave after three months saying they never really realised that and, therefore, that if they end up working in a hospital setting they will know to talk to the person accompanying the person with whom they are working. That would really help that aspect. That is the one point I wanted to make.