Not sure why I'm so bothered about the lack of government support for UK family carers during the pandemic?
Here's why 👇👇👇
(1) Almost 9 million people in the UK provide unpaid care for family members and friends with long-term illnesses and disabilities 1/n
Here's why 👇👇👇
(1) Almost 9 million people in the UK provide unpaid care for family members and friends with long-term illnesses and disabilities 1/n
(2) Their unpaid labour saves the British government £132 billion each year. That's £15 million every hour.
(3) This makes family carers the equivalent of a second NHS. 2/n
(3) This makes family carers the equivalent of a second NHS. 2/n
(4) Second only to the NHS, family carers are providing the majority of care to those most vulnerable to COVID-19.
(5) Family carers already experience higher than average rates of physical & mental illness, social isolation, and financial distress. 3/n
(5) Family carers already experience higher than average rates of physical & mental illness, social isolation, and financial distress. 3/n
(6) The increased pressure & reduced support for family carers during the pandemic will compound these problems.
(7) Carers in crisis are unlikely to be able to provide quality care, which will only serve to increase the burden on the NHS & social care systems. 4/n
(7) Carers in crisis are unlikely to be able to provide quality care, which will only serve to increase the burden on the NHS & social care systems. 4/n
(8) Supporting family carers *is* a public health intervention that will mitigate the primary & secondary impacts of the pandemic.
(9) It's also the decent, humane thing to do!!! 5/5
#carers #caregivers #COVID19 #coronavirus
(9) It's also the decent, humane thing to do!!! 5/5
#carers #caregivers #COVID19 #coronavirus
