Manx Government 'failing carers'

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 23rd Sep 2007

The Manx government is failing to provide adequate respite care and needs dramatically improving, an organisation on the Isle of Man claims. Aggrieved Carers Helping Each (ACHE), is calling for the government to provide one overnight stay a week and a week's holiday respite per carer.

The demands were made in a letter given to the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) on Thursday. The DHSS said an investigation into the matter was under way.

Carer John Shepherd has promised the group will take action unless changes are made. He said: "We've been in private negotiation with government for years about how to improve the provision of care for those with learning difficulties on the island. "We are no longer willing to see our already limited personal lives further eroded by the governments' unwillingness to meet its responsibilities to us and the family members we care for."