By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News
The unions representing nurses and midwives have joined others in stating their “outright opposition” to the government’s NHS plans in England.
The Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives had expressed concerns in the past, but said they were willing to work with ministers.
However, now they want the entire bill covering the changes to be dropped.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said the unions wanted to “have a go” at government about “pay and pensions”.
Caring for the carers is the philosophy of an extremely active group in Selsey – and its members want to reach out to help more of the ‘hidden carers’ who can often become isolated and have their dedicated efforts overlooked.
The Selsey and District Carers Support Group was set up in August 2000. Janet Harris MBE, the recently-deceased founder, started the group in her home, initially because she found herself so isolated when her husband became ill.
As she explained: “I discovered, like most fulltime carers, how incredibly lonely, exhausting, frightening, frustrating and thankless the situation can become with no support, help or advice for either my husband or myself.
“I did not choose to become a full-time carer; it happened overnight and out of necessity.”
