Carers week highlight injustices in the system

11.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 11th Jun 2008

Leading Liberal Democrat Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich has given his backing to Carers' Week to show support for the thousands of local residents who carer for dependent relatives and friends.

Carers Week is a partnership of 10 UK-wide charities (Carers UK, Counsel and Care; Crossroads Caring for Carers, Help the Hospices, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, MS Society, Neurological Alliance, the Princess Royal Trust for Carers and WRVS) to promote the unpaid work done by the six million people in the UK who support and care for others.

Carers Week starts on 9th June and runs until 15th June.

"I decided to back Carers' Week as I have seen how hard many people work to support relatives and friends with illnesses or conditions which make them dependent on others", said Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne.

"One in six people care in some way for another person. That is a huge army of people who by their efforts help others to live as normal a life as possible at home, rather than being dependent on health services and other groups for support.

Andrew recently met a local couple who were upset at the way the social security system treats carers once the carer reaches pensionable age. Mrs Stewart of Fressingfield commented:"You receive a carers allowance before retirement but after retirement it is taken away as you can't be in receipt of two benefits."

Andrew commented: "There seems to be a basic injustice here, it isn't about the money, it is about respect and valuing the very important job that carers do. Speaking to Mr and Mrs Stewart has shown me that carers are good for families, good for communities and also good for the tax-payer - offering excellent care to their loved ones at an exceptionally competitive rate."

"Many carers work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and, too often, the contribution they make is not recognised by society generally. By supporting Carers' Week, I hope to highlight the work carers do and hopefully raise awareness amongst the general public of their importance", concluded Mr Aalders-Dunthorne.