State of Caring Carers UK State of Caring 2017 Report | Page 8
STATE OF CARING REPORT 2017
Support from GPs
Over two-thirds
68 %
In the last three years, the numbers of carers identified
by GP practices has fallen, despite the promotion of
good practice in some areas. ii Funding is not always
consistent for promotion work and local improvements
are not always sustained. On the one hand, the NHS
often expects family to support other members,
but on the other hand can fail to equip them with
the knowledge and expertise to do so, and does not
consistently recognise or support them.
said that their GP knows they are
a carer but that they don’t do
anything different as a result
When asked if their GP knows they are a carer,
disappointingly, over two thirds of carers (68%) said
that their GP knows but that they don’t do anything
different as a result. This rises to 73% for those who are
providing over 50 hours of care a week, and 75% for
those providing care for a disabled child.
I have suffered physical problems
because of my caring role, mainly back
and hands due to pushing a wheelchair,
lifting and supporting my wife
Only 9% of all respondents currently providing care said
that their GP knows and offers them extra support with
their caring role and 8% said their GP knows they are
a carer and provides some help but could do more to
support them.
15% of people currently providing care said their GP
does not know they are a carer. This rises to 2 out of 10
(20%) for those who are providing care whilst bringing
up a child without disabilities and to one quarter (25%)
for those who are in paid work whilst providing care.
Mental health is a big problem. The
isolation is the hardest and the lack of
understanding of my son’s autism
These results highlight the need to introduce a new
duty on the NHS to put in place policies to identify
carers and to promote their health and wellbeing.
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What would make the most difference to
health and wellbeing?
Respondents were asked what would make the most
difference to improving their health and wellbeing.
Regular breaks from caring was the most popular
choice, with 2 in 5 (42%) placing access to breaks in
their top three things. This was followed by good quality
care services for the person they care for (35%) and a
better income (32%).
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