“Alarming” new figures show support for carers has nosedived in recent years

Unpaid carers are receiving significantly less government-funded support than they were five years ago, according to new NHS data.

Published today, the data shows that just 35,590 unpaid carers were offered respite or other forms of support in 2023/24, down 23% from 2019/20.

Carers are also finding it more difficult to access assessments which determine how much support they are entitled to. While there was a relatively small fall in the number of assessments taking place (down 4% in 2023/24 compared to 2019/20), the data shows that 70% of those who did receive an assessment were simply passed onto another service or not given any direct support at all.

Lack of support is a “travesty” for carers

Respite care provides an opportunity for carers to take a break from their caring responsibilities and recharge their batteries. It can reduce carer burnout, prevent isolation and help the carer to maintain healthy relationships.

When respite care is not routinely being offered, it can create a build-up of pressure and stress that may affect the carers’ patience and ability to deliver the best care standards possible.

Carers Trust’s Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Dominic Carter, said this lack of support is a “travesty” for unpaid carers who are taking on ever more responsibility and facing burnout due to a lack of funding for health and social care.

“Carers are playing a crucial role in looking after people stuck on NHS waiting lists or being discharged from hospital. Yet they’re being given very little in return,” he said.

Disappointment following a lack of funding for social care in Autumn Budget

The data has also revealed that overall expenditure on support for carers fell by 6.1% in 2023/24 to £183m. This is down from £195m in 2022/23. This is alarming given that a recent report from Carers UK showed that:

• 61% of carers are worried about living costs and managing in the future
• 35% said they don’t feel confident about keeping up with costs over the next 12 months
• 27% are struggling to make ends meet, with 28% having to use credit cards and 22% using overdrafts
• 28% are cutting back on essentials like food and heating
• 14% of carers are in debt because of caring.

While the Chancellor Rachel Reeves did announce more funding for social care – a total of £600 million – in the Autumn Budget yesterday, Carter says this “barely touches the surface of what’s needed.”

“These alarming figures show state funded support for carers in England has nosedived in recent years… Carers are playing a vital role in our health and social care system and deserve support that is tailored for them, wherever they may live. Without that help, their own health will decline and their ability to keep on caring will be stretched, perhaps to breaking point.

“If the new Government is serious about getting health and social care back on its feet, it cannot let that happen,” he said.

Lauren Nicolle

Lauren is a qualified journalist who writes primarily across the health and social care sectors. She is passionate about exposing the injustices faced by people with a learning disability, with a particular focus on equal access to healthcare.

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