Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the well-being of carers.

The Government recognises the vital role all unpaid and paid carers play and that the health of some carers may have been affected as a result of their caring role. We are committed to supporting carers in a way that maintains their own health and wellbeing.

During the pandemic, the Government has provided carers with guidance which includes advice on their health and wellbeing and provided over £11.6 million to a number of charities to support carers, including funding to Carers UK to extend their support phoneline. We have worked with the Social Care Institute for Excellence to publish guidance on reopening day services to provide important respite to carers. In addition, we have also allocated funding through the £1.8 billion Infection Control Fund to support the reopening of day and respite services.

The Care Act 2014 introduced important rights for carers, including an assessment of and support for, their needs where eligible. These includes a duty to promote an individual’s ‘wellbeing’ and consider the impact of the role as a carer on their wellbeing.