On Tuesday 16th March 2021 Health and Social Care Secretary of State, Matt Hancock MP, answered questions about the Government’s proposed Health and Care Bill and the recently published health and care white paper.
Parliamentary Select Committee member Barbara Keeley MP asked what steps the Government would be taking in the legislation to strengthen the rights of unpaid carers, and ensure they start to be included in health and care planning.
The Health and Social Care Secretary said this was an important point and welcomed the opportunity to work on it together.
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:
“Unpaid carers are the pillars of our health and social care systems – especially so during this pandemic - and so we were extremely disappointed that there was no mention of them in the recently published Government health and care white paper.
“We are pleased the Health and Social Care Secretary of State has since offered to work jointly on incorporating unpaid carers into the legislation. It is vital that the Government acknowledges the need for the NHS to identify and support unpaid carers in the Bill, and we look forward to working with the Government and others to ensure carers are visible and valued within this legislation."