'Carers slip down the list of priorities'

Miranda Mugford and her husband Mike planned to go sailing in retirement before Mike suffered a stroke

A retired professor who looks after her 77-year-old husband is calling for more support for carers in Wednesday's Budget.

Miranda Mugford, 75, a professor of mental health and social care at the University of East Anglia whose husband had a stroke, would like to see attendance allowance increased and more VAT relief on medical equipment.

She said politicians often talked about more money for social care, but it never materialised.

The government said its top priority was helping pensioners.

Ms Mugford talked to BBC Politics East's Your Shout.

How did Prof Mugford become a carer?

Miranda Mugford's husband Mike had a stroke in 2013

Miranda, from Barford in Norfolk, said: "My husband Mike had a catastrophic stroke in 2013.

"He needs someone around all the time. He needs food prepared, drinks prepared, toileting, getting up.

"It's pretty exhausting. It's a full time job for me. So I am now working when perhaps I imagined we'd be sailing in our retirement."

How many carers are there?

Miranda Mugford was professor emertitus at the University of East Anglia in Norwich

According to the 2021 Census, there were five million unpaid carers in England and Wales including 538,000 in the government's East of England region.

According to the Caring Together charity, in 2021 there were 81,535 unpaid carers in Norfolk and more than 34,000 of these people were caring for more than 35 hours per week - equivalent of a full-time job.

What does Miranda want to see in the Budget next week?

She said: "One of the things that is a benefit to us is that medical equipment is subject to VAT relief. We would like that to continue as it can be a considerable amount of money."

She would also like to see Attendance Allowance boosted - benefits paid to people of pensionable age who need personal care.

"It feels like there is never enough money for social care," she said.

"Politicians have talked about it at elections and we have been waiting for something more positive to happen, but I think because it is so difficult it somehow slips down the list of priorities."

Miranda looks after her husband Mike

What does the government say?

A Department of Work and Pensions spokesman said: "Supporting pensioners is a top priority and our commitment to the triple lock for the rest of this Parliament means millions will see their yearly State Pension rise by up to £1,900.

"Pensioners with care needs can also receive Attendance Allowance, which is worth up to £5,740 a year and increases in line with inflation, helping to cover extra costs."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman said: "We understand the huge difference carers make, as well as the struggles they may face.

"That's why we've delivered the biggest ever cash increase in the earnings threshold for Carer's Allowance, while providing carers with a range of wider additional support through the 10 Year Health Plan.

"We have also launched the Casey Commission to build consensus for National Care Service so everyone has access to safe, high-quality care."

BBC Politics East was broadcast on Sunday 23 November at 10:00 GMT on BBC One in the East of England, and will be available after broadcast on BBC iPlayer.

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