Time to help forgotten army of unpaid carers

BRITAIN’S army of unpaid carers is being forgotten during the coronavirus crisis, campaigners warned yesterday.

They say the people who look after sick or vulnerable loved ones in their own homes are under extra strain.

And they are calling on the Government and local councils to include the 6.5 million-strong “workforce” in their response to the pandemic.

Gareth Howells, chief executive of Carers Trust, said: “The coronavirus is making an already bad situation even worse for carers.

“Carers who are in isolation with the person they care for are contacting us via social media to say they are really struggling without their normal support systems, like people coming in to offer respite so the carer can take a few hours break each week.

“These same carers are also experiencing even greater isolation than they were before as they try to cope 24/7 with the physical and mental health needs of the person they are caring for.

Worried

“They can’t get out to the shops for even an hour, so unpaid carers are desperately worried about how they are going to access food and essential medical supplies.

“And then there are those unpaid carers who are not living with the person they care for, and who are now desperately worried about having to prove they are making an essential journey outside to support the person they care for.”

Local authorities and GPs should be identifying the unpaid carers in their areas so they can make sure that they are able to manage, charities say.

Ministers must ensure continuity of key medical supplies and equipment and any charges for emergency social care should be waived during the crisis.

Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said: “The majority of care in this country is by unpaid carers and the Government, the NHS and local authorities must ensure they include unpaid carers in their contingency planning.”