This policy briefing provides an overview of NHS England’s Long Term Plan and an analysis of what it means for carers.

Carers UK worked closely with carers to influence Government and NHS England in the development of the recently published Long Term Plan. We believe that NHS England, through the development and implementation of the Long Term Plan, has the potential to drive and deliver real and concrete changes for carers over the short and longer term. Resultantly, we called for carers to be a central pillar in the Long Term Plan.

Having now viewed the published plan, we welcome the specific areas where the NHS will look to better support and identify carers, however, the real test will now come in the implementation across local areas across England. We look forward to working closely with Government and NHS England on this to ensure robust delivery that achieves tangible change for carers, so they get the support and recognition they need to care without putting their own health and wellbeing at risk.

Whilst this Plan sets out a number of aims, there is also a real sense that this was a missed opportunity. Alongside this NHS Plan we urgently need ambitious proposals for the funding and delivery of adult social care that have the huge contribution made by carers at their heart. The Social Care Green Paper, when published, must set out concrete measures to support carers to juggle work and care and ensure they receive the financial and practical support to care without putting their own lives on hold.’