Mother is to put disabled daughter into full-time care because of cuts to respite care. Mencap comments.

Thursday 20 January 2011

David Congdon, head of campaigns and policy at Mencap, said:

"It is absolutely essential that parents of children with a disability get access to respite care. Our report ‘Breaking Point', revealed that eight out of ten parents and carers had literally reached breaking point as a result of not getting the help and support they need.

"A significant sum of money for short breaks has been included in the government's financial settlement for local councils and although this money is not ring-fenced, it is vital that breaks for families and carers are treated as a priority. Given that this money is available, there is no justification for cutting these services.

"As local authorities tighten belts we expect to hear more and more concerns from parents about respite care. Families and carers love the people they care for. They care for them willingly, but they need help to do so."

ENDS

For more information please contact Jenny Brannan on 0207 696 6017 or email jenny.brannan@mencap.org.uk.

Notes to editors

• About Mencap

Mencap supports the 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK and their families and carers. Mencap fights to change laws and improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities, supporting thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.

We are also the largest service provider of services, information and advice for people with a learning disability across England, Northern Ireland and Wales. See http://www.mencap.org.uk/ for more information.

• About learning disability

A learning disability is caused by the way the brain develops before, during or shortly after birth. It is always life-long and affects someone's intellectual and social development. It used to be called mental handicap but this term is outdated and offensive. Learning disability is NOT a mental illness. The term learning difficulty is often incorrectly used interchangeably with learning disability.