Unpaid carers in Lancashire are asked to share their experiences in national survey

Unpaid carers in Lancashire are asked to share feedback on care following a year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

What’s it all about?

An alliance of local and national care organisations are asking for feedback from unpaid carers after a year which has seen enormous challenges for all those working in the health and social care sector, those using services and their loved ones.

Unpaid carers have played a greater role than ever before in supporting people with their care needs, an incredible contribution in the fight against COVID-19. In addition to the direct support they provide, carers can play a vital role in sharing feedback about the care their family and friends receive.

Now the Because We All Care campaign is asking carers to share their experiences of the care their loved ones receive, positive or negative, across care homes, GP services, hospitals or in the home.

Research undertaken by CQC and Healthwatch has shown that unpaid carers are already more likely than the general population to provide feedback on health and social care experiences on behalf of loved ones, with 67% reporting they give positive feedback on care. In addition, 58% of carers also said they will be more likely to provide positive feedback on care after the coronavirus pandemic.

The research also found that unpaid carers are significantly more likely to have taken action to improve health and social care (71%) than the rest of the population (44%).

From Healthwatch England

Sir Robert Francis QC, Chair of Healthwatch England, said: “Unpaid carers are the backbone of our health and social care systems and their commitment and compassion have never been more vital. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a big impact on both them and those they care for whilst also prompting a huge rise in the number of new people taking on caring roles, ranging from shopping for food and collecting medicine to providing emotional support.

“And that is why we’re asking everyone who looks after their friends or family members to share their experiences of care services with their local Healthwatch.

“Your feedback can help the NHS and social care providers understand what could be improved as they work hard to provide the best possible care during these difficult times. By sharing your experiences via our completely independent and confidential survey, you can help improve support for everyone in your local community.”

Sharing your experience

People can give feedback on their experiences of care, or those of someone they care for, on the CQC website or by contacting us here at Healthwatch Lancashire.