A CARER's emotional open letter to Theresa May listing her overwhelming workload for minimum wage has gone viral on Facebook – and prompted a flood of praise from around the world.
Jessica Gentry told how she battled through the snow to help more than a dozen elderly patients at their homes over the course of one busy night shift on Friday.
She wrote on Facebook: “So tonight I stayed with a man waiting for an ambulance to come, suspected stroke.
"Helped a lady down some stairs she should not have been near.
"Gave about 15 lots of medication. Helped a man being sick and supported his wife to make it easier for her.
"Made about 25 cups of tea, 14 slices of toast, locked 17 doors, shut about 50 lots of curtains, checked heating would come on through the night so they were not cold.
"Reassured patients with dementia for the f***ing s*** 20 minutes we get.
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"Spoke to 17 elderly people, most alone and yearn for human contact and conversation, and all while driving around skidding in the white stuff looking after YOUR family’s and they call us JUST carers.
“Come on Theresa May, surely we should be on more money than minimum wage.
"Only a sister in a ward can give medication but because of money u will allow carers to give medication who have an average of 4 hours training ….the list goes on.
"Respect our oldies. Peace.”
The post was shared more than 140,000 times and sparked hundreds of comments in support.
One user wrote: “You and all other carers should be awarded a medal for all the hard work.”
Another comment said: “Britain’s unsung heroes. Defo need more than minimum wage. Like another emergency service if you ask me.”
Her words also struck a chord with other carers, including one who posted: “It’s sad that this is so true! But will it ever change?
"I used to do home care and it’s sad how they expect you to give meds, help the elderly to bed etc in 15 mins and when you run over it effects the next person."
Jessica, of Bury, Greater Manchester, has worked as a carer for more than three years.
She told the Manchester Evening News: “There are thousands of people all overworked, but we love our job and we care about the people we work for.
“But we have homes to run too and we need a wage.
“I don’t think people really understand what we do. It’s not just about giving someone a bath, we talk to people, they look forward to our visits and it means a lot to them as they don’t go out.”
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