A TEENAGE girl was told by a health visitor to wash and dress her disabled dad when her mum slipped a disc and was too ill to look after him.

The horrified mother refused to subject her daughter to such intimate work and the family had to rely on a neighbour to care for two sick adults and look after the child.

The woman, who does not wish to be named, claims it is quite common for families to be ignorant of their rights and to have to do the work of health services.

She said: "I explained to the nurse that my husband needed someone to dress him and get him up. This woman turned to me and said 'your daughter can do it'.

"I was shocked and said that he would be naked. The nurse said he could go to bed in his underpants and not change them.

"She told me there was no help available to get my husband up early enough for him to get to work.

"The reason I had hurt my back in the first place was because I had no help in lifting and had been given no advice."

Now she hopes health workers will take notice of the carers' needs.

Carers Development Worker Eileen Elliot is campaigning to make doctors understand that carers need help if they are to keep the patient they look after in good health.

She said: "Carers look to their doctors to point them to services and benefits, but naturally doctors are very busy.

"All I'm asking is when a carer comes to see them, they ask how that person is coping. Sometimes all that person wants is for someone to recognise their stresses."

She has compiled a sheet of information for carers which could be handed out by doctors with a prescription. For further information on your rights call Eileen on 200173.

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