I am 61 and I have been caring for my wife, Linda, for the past 15 years. She is quadriplegic and has no movement in any part of her body except her head. She can't speak and is totally deaf. She suffers heart disease, is diabetic and has severe epileptic seizures every three weeks.

15 years ago, I gave up my career as an insurance agent to care for my wife and two small children. I was earning four times the amount which I now live off in benefits. I provide 24/7 care.

At first, Social Services provided respite care, two days a week day care, and some help from a care nurse. Then in 2004, we came home from holiday to find a phone message from Social Services saying that all the services had been cut off without explanation. Shortly afterwards, Linda had 17 weeks of hospital treatment because of her severe epileptic seizures.

The nurses had trouble coping with her complex needs and strongly recommended she should only be discharged with a full care package in place. She was discharged without the care package and she remains under my full-time care.

After a long battle to get more support, Linda now receives full NHS Continuing Care. She gets respite care in a BUPA home four times a year. She also gets use of a day centre and medically trained workers.

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