LGA responds to new research by Carers UK

Responding to the new report "Pressure Points" by Carers UK, on community services to support carers, Vice Chair of the Local Government Association's Community Wellbeing Board, Cllr Linda Thomas, said: "Unpaid carers play an invaluable role that saves the economy an estimated £132 billion a year. Without them, social care and the NHS would collapse. "Supporting carers is fundamentally important to local government, and we fully backed the important changes brought in by the Care Act to improve the lives of carers, in particular the move to ensure that carers are recognised in law in the same way as those they care for. "However, the continuing underfunding of adult social care by government has limited councils' ability to provide support to vulnerable people and their carers. Less than a third of councils say they are confident there is enough money to meet growing levels of need this year and beyond.