No respite for sick & elderly

WHEN my mum was dying from cancer in 1990 I was 26 and her main carer – with my brother and sister-in-law helping enormously.

I was able to carry on working though because carers visited twice a day while friends and former nursing colleagues pitched in too.

But it was still emotionally exhausting, for both of us. Mum felt guilty for “being a burden” and I just wanted to stop her suffering.

So, in the final year, she twice went into a hospice for a week of “respite care”.

I was able to go on hols with a pal, Mum got her pain control improved and we both had a break from the stress.

And I’m convinced it gave our Mum extra, precious months with her two beloved grandsons.

But three decades on, millions of sick, old and disabled people and their carers are getting absolutely no respite at all.

Tory cuts have devastated adult social care in Britain, with the funding gap set to hit £2.5billion next year.

An Age UK report found cashstrapped councils are scrapping support packages that allow unpaid carers to get a desperately needed break. Even just a few hours a week.

The Care Act says families should get support “to maintain their own health and wellbeing and to be able to perform their caring role”.

Instead, these cruel cuts will force them to breaking point, and our even more knackered NHS will have to bear the burden.

Have a care, Mrs May.