Minister pledges protection for carers' support

Last week, Care Services Minister Paul Burstow announced that there would be no cuts to the carers grant in 2010/11 – a £256million budget that provides local authority funding for carers' support and respite.

And speaking this week at a parliamentary reception for carers during Carers Week he promised to push ahead with further reforms to help carers, including better access to respite breaks.

At a time when all the talk has been about which frontline public services are going to be hit hardest by government spending cuts, we welcome the news as a small victory for carers throughout the UK.

But as Carers Week has highlighted this week, there is still a long way to go in providing full-time carers with the right level of consistent support, to enable them to have a life of their own.

The results from a recent survey highlighted the emotional, physical and financial impact of caring for someone full-time. One of the most startling results was that 80% of carers have been forced to give up leisure activities and going out socially as a result of their role.

If you care for somebody with Parkinson's or you are a person with Parkinson's who receives care from a loved one, we'd like to hear from you. Share your stories with us here, or email pr@parkinsons.org.uk