Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to help ensure that carers are (a) involved in patient care decisions and (b) given appropriate access to medical (i) records and (ii) updates during hospital stays in cases where patients have (A) cognitive and (B) neurological conditions.

The Health and Care Act 2022 introduced significant measures for people caring for their family and friends, as well as the people they are caring for. These include:

• provisions for integrated care boards to promote the involvement of patients and their carers and representatives, if any, in decisions relating to the prevention and diagnosis of illness, and the care and treatment of the person they care for; and
• a duty for National Health Service trusts and foundations to take any steps they consider necessary to involve patients and carers in discharge planning, where appropriate.

Lord Darzi’s independent review of the NHS said that a fresh approach to supporting and involving unpaid carers is required to improve outcomes for carers, people needing care, and the NHS.

We will carefully consider these findings as part of our 10-year plan for reforming and modernising the NHS and as we develop plans to reform adult social care, including through the National Care Service.