Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of unpaid family carers on levels of demand for NHS services.

The Government recognises the significant contribution unpaid family carers make to supporting individuals to remain independent and well at home.

The Department continues to consider the impact of unpaid carers on levels of demand for National Health Service services as part of its broader assessment of health and social care system pressures. The contribution that unpaid family carers make in providing care can help to prevent avoidable hospital admissions and reduce pressure on NHS services.

Work is underway to support the strengthened duties and responsibilities of the NHS towards carers, set out in the Health & Care Act 2022 (in Section 46 around Integrated Care Boards involving carers in commissioning decisions and in section 91 around involvement of unpaid carers in hospital discharge), in a way that aligns with the new Care Quality Commission assessment approach.

We continue to work with NHS England and local authorities to ensure carers are identified, supported and involved in care planning to promote sustainable care arrangements and manage demand across the system.