Carers Must Have Respite

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 16th Sep 2003

Dr Jenny Tonge MP with Jonathan Gantley, Crossroads Care Director Eleanor Willett, and Lydia Gantley, carer.

Dr Jenny Tonge, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, visited the Richmond Crossroads Care Centre in Waldegrave Road, Teddington on Monday September 15 where she met carers and their charges.

Crossroads Care offers short term respite breaks for carers, enabling them to get on with essential tasks such as shopping and going to the bank, safe in the knowledge their dependent is in good hands.

Dr Tonge said:"Crossroads is a wonderful service and gets generous grants from bodies like the Richmond Parish Lands. But it's not nearly enough - they have over 90 people on their waiting list."

"More resources are needed. I intend to raise the question of support for carers - who save the NHS and Social Services millions of pounds every year - with the Health Minister by means of a debate in the House of Commons."

ENDS

For further information please contact Dr Jenny Tonge on 07699 734 071 or Serena Hennessy on: 020 8332 7919.

Richmond Crossroads Care-Director Eleanor Willett 020 8831 6088