IT is understandable that carers across the city will be nervous about the potential for change to lead to loss of services.

With the service providers having to tender for contracts there is the possibility that existing staff and centres providing the support services will be replaced with others.

The city council has its reasons for the decision to tender which it said is based on advice it has to act upon.

It must be ensured that whatever the outcome of the tendering process is, the services provided to carers are not diminished.

Carers do an excellent job often in very difficult circumstances and it is vital they receive the support they need.

There will be familiarity with the service providers and the premises in communities they are delivered from and if they are happy with the level of service then they will not see any great need for change.

However, if the change does come the needs of carers must be at the forefront of nay decisions taken.

Everyone knows the council has been under tremendous budget pressures and that more savings will be required in the coming years.

It must be a priority to protect the services to those most vulnerable in our communities.

Many will feel their services come into that category, which makes the decision over where to look for savings all the more difficult.

We must get the best service possible for the available budget.