Ex-postie Phil cared for MS-hit wife before her death

Phil Brown became a carer for his wife Alison after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in her 30s. Like thousands of other unpaid carers across Staffordshire, Phil selflessly provided round-the-clock support for Alison – he simply saw it as doing what any loving husband would do.

Alison sadly died in 2018, and Phil now helps look after his 93-year-old mum. The retired postman also volunteers at North Staffs Carers Association (NSC), who provided him with support while he was caring for Alison. He says he wanted to volunteer for NSC to say ‘thank you’ for the help he received.

Phil was among those who attended NSC’s networking breakfast on Wednesday, one of a series of events being organised as part of National Carers Week. The 65-year-old, from Newcastle, believes it is important that the work done by unpaid carers is recognised.

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He said: “I never really saw myself as a carer. I just thought I was a husband, looking after his wife.

“With social media and everything I think think that these days there is greater awareness of what carers do, but I think there could always be more support. Carers must save the country millions of pounds by looking after their loved ones, so there should be more acknowledgement and more support.

“It’s important that employers are supportive too. Royal Mail were really good in that they understood that I had that caring role. Being a carer is a 365-day-a-year, 24-hour commitment.”

NSC delivers the all-age carers’ support service in Stoke-on-Trent, providing a range of services for carer as young as five years old. Services include one-to-on-or group support, information and guidance, signposting to health and wellbeing services and access to training. Wednesday’s event at Trent House in Fenton gave partner agencies a chance to share information and discuss how services can be improved.

Julie Boon, chief executive at NSC, says that the work provided by unpaid carers often goes unacknowledged. She said: “Carers Week is about raising awareness of unpaid carers. Unpaid carers are so important. I read somewhere that the work that they do is the equivalent of having a second NHS. If they all ever went on strike then the country would have a serious problem.

“So it’s vital that there is support for unpaid carers. If someone who is looking after a loved one gets sick themselves, then that would be two people who would be hospitalised, both them and the person they care for.”

Coinciding with National Carers Week, Stoke-on-Trent City Council has launched a new 24/7 online portal offering a range of support and advice services for carers. The portal includes a community directory of useful local organisation; housing, money and legal advice; news and events for carers; and help with carer assessments.

Councillor Duncan Walker, cabinet member for adult social care and all-age commissioning at the city council, said: “Our carers are often unsung heroes, of all ages, many unpaid looking after relatives or other loved ones, and deserve all the support we can offer.

“The services available at the click of a button through this new portal are aimed at just that – helping them to access all the advice they need along with a range of organisations who can support them.”

The portal can be reached at www.stoke.gov.uk/helpforcarers