Dear constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about support for unpaid carers during and beyond the coronavirus emergency.

The pandemic has demonstrated beyond all doubt how important carers are to our society and to our health service. I am immensely grateful to those who selflessly risk their own health and wellbeing to care for others at this difficult time.

Carers UK estimates that an additional 4.5 million people have taken on caring responsibilities following the outbreak of COVID-19 and 70% of existing unpaid family carers say they are spending even more time caring – an extra 10 hours on average a week. I know that many carers are feeling overwhelmed as a result of the pandemic and the additional caring responsibilities and personal expense that it brings. Indeed, those who have started caring during the pandemic are more likely to be managing work and childcare alongside their caring responsibilities.

Action must be taken to ensure families get the support they need during coronavirus and beyond. As a first step, I believe the Government must provide local authorities with the resources they need to support unpaid family carers, including with proper information, advice and, crucially, access to respite breaks.

The Department of Health and Social Care has published guidance for unpaid carers and defined them as “essential workers” and a priority group for testing. However, there are widespread reports of people being unable to access tests. Unpaid carers play a vital role in supporting their relatives and they should be able to access regular testing and supplies of personal protective equipment. Guidance should also emphasise the value and importance of family visits to care homes, with family members treated as key workers.

More widely, I am concerned that a decade of falling investment in adult social care has placed additional pressure on unpaid carers as many local authorities have been unable to provide the help they need. I support calls for Ministers to publish an updated Carers Strategy to improve recognition and support for unpaid carers.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this important issue.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Dowd MP