ONE in eight of your readers will be carers -- that is, people who are unpaid, for a relative, partner or friend, or for a child with a disability.

During our special awareness week, Carers Week (June 11-17) -- when we celebrate the contribution that six million people in the UK make through caring -- we are urging carers to ensure that when they next visit their GP, the practice knows about their caring situation and they are placed on a register or list of carers.

Research shows that carers identify with their GP and community nurse as the most important sources of support.

We want primary health care teams to recognise carers as partners and take their needs into account. Every year, significant numbers of carers suffer from ill-health, injury or have deteriorating health as a result of long hours of caring duties.

Not only do they often neglect their own health but they have additional burdens such as isolation and loneliness, emotional stress, financial worries and lack of information and support.

With health currently such a vital issue on this country's agenda, we cannot afford to ignore the service that carers provide.

After all, most of us will care for someone at some point in our lives.

FRANCINE BATES, Chief Executive, Contact a Family;

ALISON RYAN, Chief Executive, The Princess Royal Trust for

Carers; ALISON THOMPSON, Chief Executive, Crossroads -- Caring for Carers; DIANA

WHITWORTH, Chief Executive, Carers National Association.