LONDON, June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Government has today (Tuesday 10 June) announced a new National Strategy for Carers, which promises to double the amount spent on respite care over two years.

Reacting to the news, Chris Evans of the MS Society has responsibility for the charity's four respite centres and said that any new investment in respite care was always welcome but also urged caution.

He added: "The strategy is a step forward for carers and an extra GBP150million investment in respite care sounds good, but comes with the assumption that the current system is working well.

"To double the current spend suggests the initial GBP150million is already being used to maximum effect but we are constantly contacted by those who care for people with MS and told that isn't the case."

"We need to investigate the detail of the strategy and find out how much of the new investment will actually end up in the hands of those who need it most."

Notes to Editors:

- The MS Society (http://www.mssociety.org.uk) is the UK's largest charity dedicated to supporting everyone whose life is touched by MS, providing respite care, an award-winning freephone helpline (0808-800-8000), specialist MS nurses and funds around 40 vital MS research projects in the UK.

- Multiple sclerosis is the most common disabling neurological disorder affecting young adults and an estimated 85,000 people in the UK have MS.

- MS is the result of damage to myelin - the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres of the central nervous system - which interferes with messages between the brain and the body.

- For some people, MS is characterised by periods of relapse and remission while for others it has a progressive pattern.

- Symptoms range from loss of sight and mobility, fatigue, depression and cognitive problems. There is no cure and few effective treatments.

For media enquiries please contact the MS Society Press Office on +44(0)20-8438-0840, or the out of hours duty press officer on +44(0)7909-851401.