As professionals, you are in a unique position of trust and influence. You may be the first person a carer opens up to about their situation. The NHS Long Term Plan and Care Act 2014 both underline the importance of identifying and supporting carers early. Yet many still slip through the net. According to Carers UK, over 5.7 million people across the UK are currently providing unpaid care — and many more remain hidden. In Solihull, around 27,000 residents identified as unpaid carers in the 2021 Census, but that figure is widely acknowledged to be an underestimate.

Carers often delay identifying themselves or seeking help. Many don’t realise that they are entitled to support, and may not be aware of services like Carers Trust Solihull. This means that unless health and social care staff take proactive steps to recognise caring roles, carers miss out on vital early intervention — and in many cases, only come to our attention in crisis.

This has serious consequences. The physical and mental toll of caring is well evidenced. 70% of carers report poor mental health, and 60% report long-term physical health problems, often as a direct result of their caring role. Many are struggling with exhaustion, stress, isolation, and financial hardship. Young carers, in particular, are vulnerable to poor educational outcomes, social exclusion, and emotional strain. When carers are unsupported, the person they care for is also more likely to deteriorate or be readmitted to hospital — adding further pressure to the health and social care system.

Professionals are not expected to do everything — but you do have a duty to do something. You can make a lasting difference by routinely asking about caring responsibilities during assessments and consultations.

Simply asking, “Do you look after someone who wouldn’t manage without your help?” can open the door to early support and signposting.

Once a carer has been identified, recording that information in clinical or case records, and referring to appropriate services, such as Carers Trust Solihull, becomes a straightforward but vital next step.

If you have ever seen our staff and volunteers at events or in public, they’d be made visible by their large standees, and handing out flyers, leaflets and posters. These materials have been eye-catching in the busiest of shopping centres, and have been placed in schools, GP’s offices and employers offices, among others. They have been effective in helping those who are caring, that they are in fact unpaid carers.

Making sure unpaid carers know that they are carers is one of the most difficult barriers we often face. After all, many people believe the care they provide is a way of life, and they are simply doing what they had to do.

Our print and digital materials have been made available to you, so you can use them throughout your professional settings. We have worked with GPs who have placed our leaflets inside prescription bags, and these have been incredibly effective. Posters and leaflets could be placed at your reception, and they can be displayed on advertising boards or screens that you have in your waiting rooms.

As unpaid carers often struggle to leave the home due to caring duties, they will book and arrange doctors/prescriptions appointments online. Adding our information to your website/patient portal would help these unpaid carers know that help is out there.

If you are a health professional, please, Think Patient – Think Carer, and to know more, contact our Health Engagement Lead: lindahewitt@solihullcarers.org