Informal carers in the UK are contributing the equivalent of billions of pounds to meet the care needs of relatives and friends, analysis from the Think Tank Demos has revealed. The total value of informal care is nearly as large as the UK’s entire health spending (£144bn) and stands at nearly eight times total spending on adult social care (£18bn).
The Government is currently working towards its new policy on long-term care. With the Care Green Paper expected this autumn, Legal & General is calling for a better understanding of the way that care and benefits interact so that resources are concentrated on those making the greatest contribution. The reality of everyday care, whereby paid and unpaid carers work alongside the NHS, is not reflected in the current very complicated system. Legal & General is encouraging the government to look closely at how both the benefits system and the formal care system could work alongside the informal sector to get better outcomes for people and society.
According to research by Carers UK, 12% of the UK population are informal carers. Based on ONS population forecast, the Demos analysis estimated the total number of people to be providing informal care in the UK in 2018 to be 7,980,000.
The research accompanies a roundtable discussion on Monday 16th July with attendees from Legal & General, as well as Member of Parliament and the Health and Social Care Committee, Martin Vickers MP, and Member of the House of Lords, Lord Best.
Chris Knight, Chief Executive Officer, Legal & General Retirement Retails, comments: “Millions of informal carers play a crucial part in the long-term care system. The reality of everyday care, where paid and unpaid carers work alongside the NHS, is not reflected in the current very complicated benefits and support system. We are calling for a long-term care system that better recognizes the incredible contribution of informal carers.”
“The Government is right to focus on formal provision in its review of care policy, but if we are to create a better long-term care system, we must also recognise the vital role sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, partners, even friends play in helping their loved ones. It might be ‘informal’, but this is care that for thousands of people across the UK, is very much valued.”
Martin Vickers MP, member of the Health and Social Care Select Committee said: “It was a pleasure to speak at this important event which highlighted the often overlooked but crucial informal care economy. Given the scale of the problem the country faces with regards to social care, this roundtable discussion was an excellent forum to share problems and consider solutions. It is clear that a credible and imaginative policy is required to support our informal care givers.”
Lord Best, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group Housing and Care for Older People comments: “It was good to get a better understanding of the huge scale – and value to the nation – of informal carers. Decisions are due from government soon on paying for formal care but measures to support and enhance the input of family and friends needs recognition and appreciation. If just one eighth of informal care dried up, the cost to the State would be equivalent to a doubling of current NHS spending on formal care.”
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