Commenting on the priorities for the new Government, Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:

“With his election to office the Prime Minister must immediately begin work on his commitment to address our fragile social care system in his first 100 days.

"It is at breaking point and it’s time that the Government takes the crisis seriously and brings forward proposals for reform.

“The Government has been clear that the NHS is a priority and so the NHS Long Term Plan is a key opportunity to recognise the vital role that unpaid carers play providing care to loved ones. A legal duty on the NHS must be brought in to recognise them.

“Managing working and caring is a huge challenge and an impossible one for some, with 600 people in the UK giving up work every day to care. Carers must be supported to remain in work and we welcomed the proposals in the Conservative manifesto to introduce care leave - this should be brought forward at the earliest opportunity.

“Carers save the economy £132 billion per year, roughly equivalent to a second NHS. Let’s recognise their contribution and get social care done.”