NEW government guidance is making emergency respite care at a centre in Netley impossible.

Revitalise, has provided respite care breaks to a huge range of people for 57 years and is a lifeline to a lot of unpaid home carers and their disabled family members.

With new government rulings coming into play, the CEO of Revitalise, Jan Tregelles has spoken out about her concern for carers at this difficult time: “I have been told by countless carers that they are desperate.

“I am appalled that the Government guidance has continued to leave them forgotten, alone and stranded.

The government have now implemented a 14-day isolation period for anyone entering a care setting.

Jan added: “This is not two weeks of inconvenience; this is a matter of life or death.

“With Covid-19 infections increasing across the country and the imposition of more restrictions and isolation, there needs to be a change.

“Don’t let the absence of respite care become a death sentence for home carers.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said in response: “We are aware of the difficulties many unpaid carers are facing during this pandemic.

“We are working closely with colleagues across government and carers organisations, including Carers UK, to support carers during this period and beyond.

“We are seeking to balance the impact of self-isolation measures alongside risks around transmission that come with people moving in and out of respite care – our priority needs to be safeguarding those living and working in care homes.”