Struggling through lockdown – the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on unpaid carers in Northamptonshire

• Earlier in the year, Healthwatch Northamptonshire and Northamptonshire Carers asked unpaid carers to share their experiences of caring for a relative or friend during a challenging year for the health and social care sector, those using services and their loved ones.
• We heard that the impact of the pandemic on carers was huge, with many working tirelessly and at breaking point, having to do more to meet the physical and emotional needs of those they care for without much support from others or respite. Whilst some have been able to access online support others have felt alone or isolated.
• Our findings have been shared with health and care service providers and planners to inform their work and help them to continue to deliver good quality care and support carers at this time and beyond. Response from these organisations can be read in the report.

Feedback Healthwatch Northamptonshire and Northamptonshire Carers heard in 2020 suggested that more people were providing care to their loved ones during the pandemic and the changes to services had put extra strain on carers. In 2021, we set out to find out more about the experiences of unpaid carers.

Together with Healthwatch Northamptonshire we asked carers more about their experiences and needs through a survey, interviews and a consultation event.

Coronavirus has impacted everyone in Northamptonshire and beyond. For unpaid carers and young carers though, this impact is twofold: not just are they concerned about their own health, wellbeing and in many instances finance but they are also having to consider the person they care for.

We heard that the impact of the pandemic on carers was huge, with many working tirelessly and at breaking point, having to do more to meet the physical and emotional needs of those they care for without much support from others or respite. Whilst some have been able to access online support others have felt alone or isolated.

Carers told us that their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing had suffered from the extra strain on them, and many were concerned about the worsening condition of those they care for, exasperated by the reduction in health and care services, the need to stay away from others or the anxiety caused by the pandemic.

These findings are very similar to those reported by Carers UK, showing that the impacts of the pandemic on carers in Northamptonshire are the same as those felt around the UK.

Our report also highlights the support carers need, both during the pandemic and longer term and suggests ways that carers could be supported to recover from this time, and which changes to the way services have been delivered they would like to stay.

As a carer commented:

I would like to thank you for doing this research. No-one has really asked me how I’ve coped this year caring for my parents. I have muddled along and it is only when I answer your questions that I realise how tough it has been.

Supporting carers is a team effort involving health services, social care, employers, voluntary sector, education and the wider community. The findings from this work will be shared widely, and Healthwatch Northamptonshire and Northamptonshire Carers will work with partners to support them to act on the recommendations.

The report has already been shared with the main providers of health and care in the county and those that plan and make decisions.

Within the report you can read the responses to the findings and recommendations from the following organisations:

• Northamptonshire Carers
• Public Health Northamptonshire
• West Northamptonshire Council
• NHS Northamptonshire Clinical Commissioning Group (also on behalf of Primary care and Northamptonshire Health and Care Partnership)
• Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Kettering General Hospital and Northampton General Hospital

Mark Major, CEO of Northamptonshire Carers, said:

This report demonstrates the impact or the pandemic on carers and also highlights what support is needed. Some of this is already in place with a popular menu of online activities to provide a break from caring. We are planning on keeping much of this whilst reopening face-to-face support in-line with guidance. As the report finds, flexibility suits many carers whether it be in the workplace or in terms of delivery of services. This allows an individual approach which best suits a caring role – there are 70,000 carers in Northamptonshire, each with their own circumstances who would benefit from this approach.

Kate Holt, CEO of Healthwatch Northamptonshire, said

Many carers took the time to tell us in detail about the difficulties they have faced during the pandemic, and we are very grateful to them. We hope we have given carers a voice through this report and, with Northamptonshire Carers, we will work with partners to encourage them to respond to the needs of carers.

Read the report

• For more information call Healthwatch Northamptonshire on 0300 002 0010 or email 
• If you need more support as a carer, please contact Northamptonshire Carers