Give Carers a Break, Not a Breakdown  

Whenever I meet a carer I am humbled by their dedication and touched by the love they show in the face of daily adversity. To be a carer you have to be a pretty special person. It is also likely that you feel your tireless efforts to care for a family member or friend generally go unnoticed. But the Liberal Democrats want to make sure this silent army of carers is recognised. Every year unpaid carers save our national services an estimated £119 billion a year (http://www.carersuk.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=2121&Itemid=8), which is why we included a manifesto pledge to provide guaranteed respite care for the one million carers who work the longest hours. Even just a holiday for a couple of days can make the world of difference to someone who must be on hand night and day to carry out their caring duties. I once came across the case of Zak, who not only looked after...