Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect on the mental health of (a) informal carers and (b) people accessing social care of the decision by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman not to (i) take on and (ii) investigate new complaints during the covid-19 outbreak.

On 8 April we published guidance for unpaid carers on GOV.UK, which includes advice on infection control, caring where someone has symptoms and links to other information and support.

There is other guidance also published on GOV.UK for everyone, including unpaid carers, on self-care and mental health wellbeing.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has started to restart suspended complaints and anticipates reopening for new complaints in the coming weeks. Members of the public will not lose their right of appeal, and complaints regarding the COVID-19 outbreak period will be considered in due course. The Ombudsman is not an emergency service, and members of the public are required by law to first have their complaints investigated by their council or care provider. The Ombudsman has also opened up a helpline to give advice and support to concerned members of the public.