The findings from Carers UK echo what we continue to hear across the sector—unpaid carers are the backbone of our health and care system, yet too many are reaching breaking point. The cost of caring is more than just financial; it is emotional, social and physical. As caring responsibilities intensify, too many people are being forced to choose between their own wellbeing, work and the people they love. This is not sustainable—for carers or for the system that depends on them.
As government action moves forward supporting the adult social care workforce through the Fair Pay Agreement, there is a pressing need for equal attention to unpaid carers. Carers should not be an afterthought in policy or practice—they should be at the centre of a reformed and fair care system.
Kathryn Marsden OBE
Chief Executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)