A WIFE has spoken of her battle to look after her husband following his multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

Sue Fermor Bradstock, from Crawley, has created a video diary of the day to day issues she faces each week.

Segments of the diary will be released daily as part of Carers Support West Sussex’s backing of Carers Week.

The aim is to highlight the contribution made by about 89,000 family and friend carers who look after other people across the county.

Sue, 61, said: “I was nervous about making the video diary but having personal experience and having met many carers while employed as a health care assistant in a mental health setting, I have for some time wanted to play a part in highlighting what it is like to be a carer.

“It can be hard for those who have never been in this position to have any idea.

“It can be challenging and both emotionally and physically exhausting.

“You may have to deal with situations at home and with outside agencies that you are not familiar with.

“It is a role that has no training and varies enormously from person to person.

“If the person you are caring for cannot communicate well or has altered perception you can sometimes feel very lonely.

“We have a small group of carers who know Pete well and have almost become part of the family.

“We have supportive family, church and friends locally. Others are not this fortunate.

“If you know a carer, ask them about their situation.

“There may be some very small thing you could do to make a difference and if not, you asking might just make them feel that someone cares about them too.”

Carers Support chief executive Jennie Musgrove said: “We want local people to recognise the selfless, hard work and support carers give to their family and friends.

“There are many stresses and strains to face but also many rewards and comforts of helping loved ones to remain in their homes when they are frail, unwell, need support or have other special needs.

“Please just ask any carer to give us a call.”

The charity is hosting and taking part in more than 40 events over the course of this week.

This includes running information stands at West Sussex libraries, hospitals and GP surgeries.

Staff are also hosting a vintage tea party in Lancing, a Punjabi street food demonstration in Horsham and has given away tickets to the Weald and Downland museum in Singleton, near Chichester.

It will also be offering support to those who look after others and urging everyone to be carer friendly.

Carers in West Sussex are believed to save the county more than £1.5 billion a year.

The charity’s events will be taking place in Worthing, Crawley, Lancing, Bognor, Chichester, Horsham, Haywards Heath, Midhurst, Littlehampton, East Grinstead, Arundel, Steyning, Storrington, Henfield and Burgess Hill.

The charity says 10.6 per cent of people in West Sussex are carers and it has more than 17,500 of them registered on its books.

Sue’s diary can be found each day this week at facebook.com/CarersWSussex.

More information about the work done by the charity can be found at its website carerssupport.org.uk or by calling its dedicated carer response line on 0300 028 8888.