The Government launched the new carers strategy yesterday, which amongst other things promised

I am not sure that it will have much use to us. What Iwould make our life easier is if
A i did not have to work
B My employers would allow me to work form home
C the local council allowed my son to have transport to school. It has been refused becuase we live too near
D there were more registered child minders that were willing to care for a child with a disability

For carers like myself and hundreds others the notion of going out to work would be ridiculous. For many of us, we already have a full-time job looking after someone with extremely high support needs. I can't help feeling that this is more about reducing the numbers of people dependant on benefits rather than supporting carers. I would much rather see an increase in carers allowance especially as gas and electricity bills are going through the roof. What we need in respite services is more choice - is the extra money going to guarantee choice?

My concern is that the new strategy is full of promises for carers needs but does not specify with clarity how this will be implemented. What about the quality of care for the person with the disability. I think the focus is now becoming too one sided and Local Authorities will use this to implement their own version of how the care should be provided. I do not want care at any cost to my child. I would like to see more respite centres providing quality care, but I fear that much of the care to provide respite for carers will be inadequate standard and delivery.

hi,my name is ava,I am a 55yr old mother with two sons that have disabilities. I am lucky to have respite for one son who has cerebral palsy which I had to fight for a number of years to obtain. I feel the government funding will mostly be lost to pay wages and not put were its needed to the disabled persons themselves. More respite facilities are desperately needed. also I have always felt that carers should be treated as a workforce and paid accordingly we save the government millions but are treated as if we are unemployed and looked down upon.

My husband would flatly refuse respite care if it was offered. He would only consider staying with one of our daughters, which he did when I was hospitalised for a couple of days last week.