Unpaid carers: the hidden backbone of our health and care system

Caring is common – and often invisible

The Health Foundation’s analysis shows that around 1 in 6 adults in the UK provided unpaid care between 2023 and 2025, equivalent to 8.9 million people. However, the report also notes that the true number may be higher, as many people do not identify themselves as carers, even when they are providing significant support.

Most of us will either give or receive unpaid care at some point in our lives. While caring can be rewarding, the report is clear that without the right support, it can come at a significant personal, financial and health cost. 

Caring responsibilities are not shared equally

The report highlights clear inequalities in who provides unpaid care. Older people are more likely to be carers, and women are 29% more likely than men to provide unpaid care. These differences matter because they shape who is most likely to experience the pressures of caring alongside other responsibilities, such as paid work or managing their own health.

While most carers provide fewer than 20 hours of care a week, the report shows that more than 1 in 5 unpaid carers (22%) provide over 35 hours of care each week. These carers are more likely to be providing care within their own home, often with limited breaks or respite.

The impact on health and wellbeing

Caring can have a real impact on carers’ health. The Health Foundation found that 37% of unpaid carers aged 18–29 reported having a long-term health condition or disability, compared with 22% of non-carers of the same age. This shows that caring responsibilities can affect people’s health from a young age, not just later in life. 

The report emphasises that carers often struggle to prioritise their own wellbeing, particularly when caring roles are intense or long‑term and support is limited.

Caring and work: a difficult balance

For many people, caring also affects employment. The analysis shows that working‑age unpaid carers are less likely to be in paid employment (59%) than non‑carers (67%). Among those providing more than 35 hours of care per week, this falls sharply to just 35%.

This highlights the difficult choices carers often face between earning an income and meeting caring responsibilities, particularly when flexible work or paid leave is not available. 

Limited support and growing reliance on carers

The Health Foundation report finds that there has been little government action in England in recent years to improve support for unpaid carers. Financial support is generally targeted at people on lower incomes, and the adult social care system increasingly relies on unpaid carers to fill gaps in provision. 

Limited access to state‑funded care means families often have no option but to provide care themselves, even when this has a negative impact on their own lives. 

Why this matters for Rotherham

At Healthwatch Rotherham, we hear regularly from unpaid carers about the challenges they face – from navigating services and accessing assessments, to managing their own health while caring for someone else. This national report reflects many of the issues local people tell us about and underlines the importance of listening to carers’ experiences when designing health and care services.

The Health Foundation points to opportunities to improve support for carers, including better financial support and rights such as paid leave, as well as addressing long‑standing issues in social care funding.

Read their full report 

Unpaid care: the realities of caring in the UK