The health of unpaid carers and the people they support is deteriorating due to serious difficulties getting the NHS treatment they need, a new survey has revealed.
A third of carers have been waiting more than a year for specialist treatment or an assessment, according to the survey by Carers UK.
A similar proportion - 31% - of the person they care for has also been waiting for more than a year.
Two thirds of carers (67%) said the wait for treatment is having a negative impact on their mental or physical health, with it affecting a third of carers’ attendance at work.
The charity warned this is compounded by a shortage of care and the cost of living crisis, creating a 'perfect storm; for carer breakdown.
Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said: 'Gridlock in hospitals and lengthy NHS waiting lists, combined with a perpetual shortage in care services and the cost-of-living squeeze is forming the perfect storm for unpaid carers to collapse. They have nowhere to turn.
'The backbone of our NHS and social care systems, unpaid carers have been completely overlooked for support. Without it, we will only see more carers crumble - and more pressure applied to our already over-stretched services.'
One in five carers also told the charity their loved one’s emergency admission to hospital was avoidable with higher quality care and support in place.
Council leaders warned the care system would not 'survive' without the contribution of unpaid carers but they needed more funding to support unpaid carers.
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA Community Wellbeing Board, said: 'We know that this survey clearly shows that caring can place a real strain on carers – emotionally, physically and financially.
'The Government must use its upcoming autumn statement to urgently provide councils with the extra funding they need to help support unpaid carers as well as people who use services ahead of winter.'
