THE ongoing crisis in social care is never far from the news. Readers will recognise the value of care workers, either as an elderly or disabled person or as a family member. They provide an essential support to some of the most frail and vulnerable people in our town.

It's hard work both physically and emotionally, but it's vital work. Care workers nurse, clean, feed those who need help. Families rely on them to provide care with dignity to their loved ones. Society could not function without them.

Care workers can often feel invisible, undervalued and overstretched. They are not allowed the time or resources needed to provide the level of care people deserve. Poverty pay and zero hour contracts mean they often struggle to provide for their own families.

Care workers are now saying “enough is enough” and are calling on the government to provide fair funding for social care. The public service trade union, UNISON and other organisations are giving their support to The Ethical Care campaign which calls on council and NHS commissioners to insist that care workers have the time and resources needed to care with dignity.

To succeed the campaign desperately needs support. I was really pleased to see that Andy Burnham MP, candidate for the role of Greater Manchester Mayor has his full backing. Hopefully other mayoral candidates will do the same.

To find out more about the Ethical Care Charter, check out the website: http://www.savecarenow.org.uk/ethical-care-charter/

Together we can fight to secure a much better future for social care.

Joan Pritchard-Jones

Retired Care Worker

Deane

Bolton