Give carers a break, say Lib Dems

A local Liberal Democrat who works in the social care sector is supporting calls for the Government to give carers a break by providing emergency funding to local authorities for respite care.

More than 12,000 people in Gloucester are looking after elderly, disabled or vulnerable people during the Covid pandemic, according to figures from the 2011 Census.

Research from Carers UK shows that many carers have been unable to take any breaks from their caring role during the Covid-19 pandemic and are worn out.

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to provide local authorities with emergency funding in his Budget next month.

Dr Rebecca Trimnell, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Hempsted and Westgate at May's county council elections, said: "The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Chancellor to provide councils with emergency funding to help unpaid carers.

"Too often they are the forgotten workforce and this must change as we build a more caring society as we emerge from the pandemic.

"People in Gloucester looking after their loved ones are doing a remarkable and important job in very difficult circumstances.

"These unpaid carers have taken on dramatically increased caring responsibilities during this pandemic.

"Most haven't been able to take a single break since the pandemic started. Most are simply exhausted.

"I work in the care sector myself, so I know how much personal sacrifices my colleagues have made in the last 12 months.

"But at least I am able to have regular time off. The same cannot be said for the 12,000 unpaid carers in Gloucester.

"It's about time the Government gave them a break."