Rising numbers of unpaid carers say they need more support from the NHS

• 51% of unpaid carers say they need more support from the NHS, compared to 42% two years ago.
• Just 14% of carers felt they were asked about their ability and willingness to provide care as part of the hospital discharge process.
• 44% of carers say the person they care for experienced an emergency admission or unplanned visit to hospital in the last 12 months.

An increasing number of unpaid carers looking after family members or friends who are older, disabled or living with a chronic health condition say they are not receiving the support they need from the NHS.

New figures from the Carers UK State of Caring Survey 2025 show a significant rise in the number of unpaid carers saying they need better support, from 42% in 2023 to over half (51%) in 2025.

Just 14% of unpaid carers surveyed by Carers UK say they were asked about their ability to provide care as part of the hospital discharge procedure – even though carers have a legal right to be involved in this process under the Health and Care Act 2022.

Under a fifth of carers (18%) say they are confident that any feedback or complaint they make about a health or social care service will be acted on.

The charity’s latest report, which analyses unpaid carers’ experiences of the NHS, responds to the Government’s NHS 10 Year Health Plan unveiled in July this year. It welcomes a fresh approach and sets out strong evidence for why the NHS needs to systematically identify, value and support carers – transforming carers’ experiences, outcomes for the people they care for and the health system as a whole.

There are 4.7 million unpaid carers in England alone and the economic value of the care they provide is worth an estimated £152 billion. Unpaid carers play an essential role in supporting health services which are operating under substantial pressure, but often go unrecognised and undervalued by health services.

Carers UK has previously found that a significant number (65%) feel overwhelmed by their caring role because they are not able to take a break and two thirds (66%) say they need more support with their own health and wellbeing.  

The Government’s 10-Year Plan sets out its ambitions to reform the NHS in England in three main ways, focusing on a shift from hospital to community, analogue to digital and sickness to prevention.

For its latest report Carers UK found that carers are becoming more confident about using technology, such as the NHS App, demonstrating an appetite for digital tools which can reduce administration and increase information and advice.

44% of carers told the charity that the person they care for had experienced an emergency admission or unplanned hospital visit during the last year and 31% say more services provided by the NHS at home would have prevented this. 

Most carers were in favour of care closer to home, but 44% expressed concern this could increase their caring responsibilities unless they were supported better. The majority want to see better joined up working between health and social care services.

Helen Walker, Chief Executive at Carers UK, said:

“Unpaid carers really value the NHS, but they want to see better recognition of the importance of their role. Put simply, our current health and care system would collapse without carers’ support.

“We are really worried about the growing number of carers struggling with their own health due to the enormous pressures they are under. In cases where carers without support reach breaking point, the NHS often ends up having to look after two people, rather than one, with significant associated costs. 

“Given the value of carers’ support to the NHS, which often comes at a cost to their own health and wellbeing, it’s not too much to ask to ensure that they are identified and supported. We need a culture change from the NHS towards carers which is rooted in law and delivered consistently through practice.

“From what carers tell us, many of the challenges they face are preventable with better information sharing, integrated services and investment in social care – preventing unplanned emergency admissions which are often hugely stressful.

“We see significant potential for technology such as the NHS app and the planned My Carer function to assist and empower unpaid carers to care safely and well. Why wouldn’t the NHS take this opportunity to put carers are the heart of the delivery of their services? There must be a shift in thinking – one that sees unpaid carers as essential partners without whom the NHS cannot succeed.”

You can read the full report here.