WITH local and, indeed, national attention recently focussing on the role that carers play in today’s society I think it is high time that anyone, young or old, is given much more assistance to enable them to cope with the stress and physical demands and not least the financial pressures of looking after a loved one or friend.

Being given a label of 'carer ' and left to fend for themselves as best they can is just not acceptable.

It is an outrage that the only financial help given to carers is a paltry £64 a week for often 24/7 caring responsibilities that can cover everything from bathing, toiletting, administering medication, organising and keeping the often frequent GP and hospital appointments that go hand in hand with anyone who has multiple chronic health problems.

I always considered myself to be mentally and physically strong throughout my life, able to cope and stand up for myself, but as a result of my becoming my wife’s carer and thereby losing my job and self esteem together with the constant lack of sleep, stress, depression and just the helplessness that you feel as a loved one slips away little by little before your very eyes while garnering more and more conditions as age and poorer health seem to snowball gradually takes its toll.

The benefits system has effectively been removed from those who need it most and transferred to those who are healthy and able to work. Presumably that was what making work pay meant.

I salute all those who carry out this role as they deserve more recognition and more importantly help of all kinds in order to assist them in this role.

To the Government and local authorities I would say this - without input of significant resources and help a time bomb is ticking as with things left as at present more and more carers will themselves need to be cared for as their health collapses as a direct result of their caring responsibilities.

A large part of this would be to re establish a functioning social services department as it once was instead of the hollowed-out version that remains at present.

Charities, both local and national, are being overwhelmed by demand and as a result are becoming less effective as a result. Now is the time to change things for the better.

Robert Boak

Allithwaite