Today, a survey by the Adult Directors of Social Services, ADASS, reveals a rise in the numbers of people being discharged early from hospital, putting more pressure on unpaid carers.

The ADASS survey results, drawn from 95% of councils with responsibility for adult social care across England, show the average size of care packages for people being discharged from hospital has increased across 76% of council areas in the past 12 months. The number of homecare hours that councils are providing per person has risen from 697 hours in 2022 to 750 hours in 2024. While 49,000 more people are now in need of multiple home care visits known as ‘double handed care.’ 

For elderly people and adults with a disability, they now need more support when discharged early from hospital, as many are still unwell when they return home.  

Emily Holzhausen, CBE, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers UK, said:  

 “These findings also show that unpaid carers are under more pressure to support relatives or friends who are discharged early from hospital.   

“There are currently 4.7 million unpaid carers in England, caring for an ill, elderly or disabled relative or friend. We know that carers feel stretched both emotionally and financially with 600 unpaid carers leaving work a day to care. Many are at breaking point, providing more care than ever before due to shortages in social care, long NHS waiting lists and an outdated benefit system which leaves carers in debt to the DWP.  

“Yet unpaid care is worth £154 billion per year to the economy in England, the equivalent of a second NHS, but many feel unsupported and forgotten. With 78% of carers worried about being able to provide care in the future, this needs urgent attention.”