Yorkshire father who provides 90 hours care a week to his disabled daughter speaks of his burn out as figures reveal rise in unpaid carers doing 50 hours plus

Just over 148,000 people in the region are giving 50 hours plus of care a week, according to latest data from the 2021 census.

That represents an increase of 10 per cent since 2011, alongside a 35 per cent rise in the number of people providing 20-49 hours unpaid care a week.

A leading charity has described the “devastating impact that substantial unpaid care of over 20 hours per week can have on carers’ health,” as it warned the social care system was at risk of collapse without urgent intervention.

The overall number of unpaid carers has fallen from 551,000 in the 2011 Census to 472,000 in the 2021 Census across Yorkshire and the Humber, mostly through a reduction in the numbers of people providing lower hours of care, according to Carers UK.

Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said: “The increase in the number of hours of care provided by families every week since 2011 is striking and is a continuous upward trend.

“This is clearly a result of the shortage of adequate and properly funded social care services and health services to support unpaid carers and the people they care for.

"Funding to help carers take vital breaks and respite, so they can maintain their own health and wellbeing whilst looking after someone, is desperately needed along with significant social care funding.”

“Without the support provided by unpaid carers our health and social care systems would quite simply collapse. It is vital that the Government recognises the pressing needs of this huge swathe of people and develops a funded National Carers Strategy for England."

Michael Firth, 60, from Bradford, provides up to 90 hours a week care for his daughter Susie, 28, who has a range of illnesses including microcephaly, palsy, and epilepsy.

Susie is a wheelchair user and needs constant care as she cannot feed, dress or bathe herself. While she receives up to four hours a day funded personal care, Mr Firth otherwise provides all her support and receives £98 a week in Carers Allowance.

He said: “It’s a full time job. Susie has no safety awareness and I’ve to do all her meals and movement handling.”

Last year, his respite carer retired, which has left Mr Firth – who cannot work due to Susie’s care needs – able to access just six days of funded respite a year.

He told the Yorkshire Post: “I’ve hit a brick wall. I have lost 24 days of respite due to there being no adapted properties in Bradford.

"We don’t know how they’re going to rectify it. Our social worker has no idea, because our local authority doesn’t have the numbers on their book to accomodate us.

"It means I don’t get a rest and it leads to mental and physical fatigue.

"There needs to be a whole shake up of the social care system.

"It’s alright assessing people’s needs, but nothing’s going to happen if the finances aren’t there and everybody will suffer.”