Petition to Surrey County Council

Real people, real suffering 

Following this news we heard from Jeanette* in Wotton. She is an unpaid carer who looks after her husband 24 hours a day. On top of all she’s coping with there, she is facing her own battle with cancer.

(Warning: here we are going to mention severe mental illness symptoms that some readers may find upsetting.)

Jeanette told us:

“I am devastated the funding is no longer available to us. It has been my lifeline… This weekend was very hard; I did contemplate taking my own life as I can’t really cope anymore with no help. 

Sadly then this [news]. I’m at breaking point and nowhere to turn. I thought we had this and now I’m alone again, for how long I don’t know.”
 

This isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet being cut to save costs. These are our neighbours, our friends, our family members who are already giving everything to care for loved ones with disabilities, dementia, or serious illnesses. 

Without respite breaks, carers will: 

• Have to cancel all medical appointments 

• Spend every waking moment without privacy 

• See their mental and physical health break down 

• Inevitably, through no fault of their own, put even more strain on the NHS 

The Council’s broken promise may push already exhausted carers like Jeanette over the edge. 

This must stop! 

Crossroads Care Surrey is taking legal action – but we need your voice too. 

Sign this petition demanding Surrey County Council:

• Immediately reverse their unlawful contract termination
• Honour their promise to all affected carers
• Restore the respite breaks that 274 of Surrey’s most loving, loyal people
  desperately need