North Hampshire's unpaid carers asked to speak up

Healthwatch Hampshire say many people across Hampshire became unpaid carers overnight when lockdown was imposed, increasing their responsibilities to look after older, disabled or seriously ill loved ones and relatives instantly.

With day care centres and respite closed down, it left carers in a particularly challenging position. Healthwatch Hampshire has now launched a 'Support for Carers campaign' to give unpaid carers a voice.

They want to hear what caring during the pandemic has been like and how things need to change going forward, particularly with the virus still in circulation.

Neil Bolton-Heaton, Head of Healthwatch Hampshire, said:

“We undertook a general Covid-19 survey back in July, to ask people how they found accessing health and care services during the pandemic. At that time, carers told us they felt “left to get on with things”, so we want to find out more about the problems and what can be done to support carers moving forward.”

According to Care UK, nationally, it is thought that 4.5 million additional people have taken on caring for older, disabled or seriously ill relatives or friends since the Covid-19 pandemic started. Many of these people are also juggling work and family life alongside unpaid care work and finding it very difficult.

“The hardest thing for me has been trying to look after a 94-year-old with dementia. We have just been left to get on with it.”

This was just one of the responses which they received from carers to a general survey, which raised alarm bells so now they want to hear from carers across the county and have launched a county-wide survey to hear their views.

Another carer told Healthwatch Hampshire:

“My son was changing to a new respite centre which is not taking in new users now. Direct payment workers are not coming to our home, so we have been left alone. My son is aggressive, and my husband is not well.”

Healthwatch Hampshire is working to understand the picture across the county by asking all unpaid carers to take part in their survey and share their experiences.

They aim to:

· identify the issues affecting unpaid carers since the pandemic began

· identify what needs to be done differently to support carers going forward

Carers can take part in our survey in a number of ways:

· Complete the survey online: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/Healthwatchcarers/

· Call: 01962 440262

· Email: carers@healthwatchhampshire.co.uk

· Visit their website to complete the survey and find other resources: www.healthwatchhampshire.co.uk

· Write to them at:

Healthwatch Hampshire

Unit 12

Winnall Valley Road

Winchester

SO23 0LD

Healthwatch Hampshire say they will be publishing the results of the survey on Carers Rights Day – 26 November 2020 – in a report which will be shared with all of the relevant health and care organisations, to ensure unpaid carers concerns and requirements are heard.

• healthwatch hampshire
• unpaid carers