The King’s Speech today mentioned government plans to push forward with significant reforms to the NHS, introducing an NHS Modernisation Bill, and plans to strengthen the UK’s youth employment programme.

Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: 

“Whilst making reforms to the NHS, the Government has a significant opportunity to improve identification and support for carers throughout our health system who are more likely to be in poor health than non-carers. The care they provide is a staggering £184 billion a year, the same as the NHS, and yet they often feel unseen and invisible.

“With an ageing population and increasing demand for care, it is more important than ever that the NHS recognises, involves and supports unpaid carers. Doing so leads to better outcomes for both carers and the people they care for, while also making sound financial sense at a time when funding remains under constant pressure.

“Our recent Tipping Point research shows that the NHS also has a key role to play in supporting those juggling work and care to stay in employment. Carers who experienced a lack of coordinated support from the NHS say this increased stress levels and resulted in them taking on greater levels of caring responsibilities themselves.

“According to our research, carers are twice as likely to face poverty as non-carers and there are real challenges for carers trying to juggle work and care. It is positive that the Government intends to ease the cost of living for working people, but we also need to see a focus on addressing the needs of unpaid carers who live on low incomes and are at the sharp end of the cost-of-living crisis. We welcome the new package of legislation designed to strengthen the UK’s youth employment programme which will support young adult carers.

“Carers UK would like to see the government bring forward positive change for Carer’s Allowance following the Independent Review into Carer’s Allowance overpayments by Liz Sayce OBE – this includes an earnings taper to replace the current Carer’s Allowance ‘cliff edge’. We are seeking clarification on how these changes can be progressed as quickly as possible to ensure carers are not left waiting for support.”