The story (June 20) about cuts in funding for carers’ respite breaks is nothing short of astonishing.

Actually, not so astonishing, as the same thing happened last year.

This is not about insufficient funds being made available by Government.

The funds were not “ringfenced”.

Why not? And anyway, what kind of excuse is that?

I would be interested to know what the funds were spent on instead.

Large bureaucracies seem to work to protect their own interests above the needs of the vulnerable and defenceless people they are paid to protect.

It would be scandalous to find out somebody in charge of the budget thinks the jobs of office workers outrank the needs of carers.

If a carer cracks up then there will potentially be a large extra health and care bill to pay, so the decision is penny wise and pound foolish.

Carers are among the most stressed and vulnerable people in society. Yet according to Carers UK they save the country £119billion in unpaid care every year.

Surely they have a right to expect at the very least the funds provided out of general taxation for their well-being are actually spent on that?

Glyn Evans
KIlworth Avenue
Southend