- Carers UK hand-in letter signed by over 10,000 people to 10 Downing Street, calling for a step-change in support for unpaid carers from the new Government and the development of a new and ambitious National Carers Strategy.
Unpaid carers today (15 August 2024) delivered an open letter to the new Prime Minister, calling on Sir Keir Starmer to make support for those providing unpaid care for a partner, relative or friend who is elderly, ill or disabled one of his Government’s top priorities.
The letter, organised by Carers UK, was signed by over 10,000 people and calls for urgent and decisive action to address the challenges unpaid carers are currently facing.
It includes unpaid carers’ key priorities and outlines how the Government can take significant steps to ensure they are properly recognised and supported over the next five years. These include reforming and increasing Carer’s Allowance, introducing paid Carer’s Leave, and a long-term funding settlement for adult social care.
Sixteen years on from the last National Carers Strategy supported by the then Prime Minister, Rt Hon Gordon Brown in 2008, Carers UK want to see the Government make an early commitment to deliver a new, ambitious and fully funded cross-Government Carers Strategy – which recognises that the amount of unpaid care being provided has increased significantly over the past decade.
A consultation from the All-Party Parliamentary Group of Carers prior to the general election showed unanimous support for the need for such a strategy, returning around 5,000 responses – the equivalent to a Government consultation response.
Over one and a half million people in England and Wales are now caring for more than 50 hours every week, and as a result, the value of unpaid carers’ support is now worth a staggering £162 billion a year, the equivalent of a second NHS.
Unpaid caring often comes at a significant personal cost and carers across the UK are feeling the pressure of caring for someone without the right support in place. 79% of carers feel stressed and anxious, and 61% say they need more support to look after their health and wellbeing.
Norman Phillips, an unpaid carer at the hand-in, said:
“Providing unpaid care is incredibly tough. Earlier this year I had nothing left to give after 18 years of providing constant care for my wife Ros, who was in very poor health. It was a very difficult situation and, although we thought she might need end of life care imminently, I was struggling to get the support she needed and there was no continuity of care. The stress eventually led to me breaking down, having gone 72 hours with no sleep.
“With social care and the NHS on their knees, so much of the caring is left to us, the millions of invisible unpaid carers – and it really takes its toll, both financially and emotionally. Although I was retired, despite everything we have gone through, I had to go back to work part-time to help pay the bills.
“As unpaid carers we need some recognition and, crucially, to get the support we need to care for our loved ones as best we can. I urge the Government not to forget that we are being pushed to breaking point by the unsustainable levels of care that we are expected to deliver single-handedly. I call on the Prime Minister to act urgently and decisively to address the challenges we’re facing and provide the respite we need.”
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK said:
“Carer’s mental and physical health is getting worse, and for some it’s at rock bottom. Over 10,000 people have signed the open letter, many of whom are carers or former carers, showing the strength of feeling on this issue.
“Nearly three quarters of carers whose mental health is bad or very bad or are continuing to care even though they feel at breaking point. There is no time to lose, which is why we’re calling for a National Carer’s Strategy committing to further support and identifying specific actions to deliver tangible progress for carers, their families and those they care for.
“The new Government has a once in a generation opportunity to transform the lives of millions of people and ensure that every unpaid carer gets the practical, financial and workplace support they need to balance caring responsibilities alongside looking after their own health and wellbeing. It must deliver on its commitments to carers, there is no time to waste.”
