For Carers Week, our leadership message comes from Kulvant Sandhu

Posted on: 13 June 2025

For Carers Week, our leadership message comes from Kulvant Sandhu, Senior Programme Manager for Unpaid Carers, Personalisation and Palliative End of Care Life, NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Carers Week 2025: Caring about equality

It’s Carers Week and this year’s theme, ‘caring about equality,’ aims to shine a spotlight on the challenges and inequalities unpaid carers face every day.

It’s estimated that one in five adults are unpaid carers and within our own NHS workforce, around one in three juggle their job alongside caring responsibilities. Yet the inequalities faced by unpaid carers are not always visible. Unpaid carers are at greater risk of poverty, social isolation and poor physical and mental health. Too often, people of all ages miss out on opportunities in education, employment and their personal lives because of the demands of their caring role.

So, what is an unpaid carer? Put simply it’s anyone (adult or child) who provides unpaid care to a family member or friend with a disability, illness, or someone who needs support in later life. But what’s not so simple is unpaid carers being recognised, finding the support they need, or navigating the health and care system. I’ve seen this first-hand, not only in my clinical career as a nurse, but also through my own personal experiences when I was an unpaid carer.

The scale of unpaid care is astonishing. Carers UK estimates its value at £164 billion per year - equivalent to a second NHS in England and Wales. But supporting unpaid carers is about far more than economic value. It’s about making sure people who want to care can do so safely, sustainably, and with the right support - and that those who are cared for can remain in their own homes and communities, surrounded by the people who know them best. This vision closely aligns with the NHS’s three shifts and integrated neighbourhood health - placing care closer to home, recognising the vital role of unpaid carers in enabling this shift towards community-based support, and strengthening prevention.

Initiatives from our Unpaid Carers Programme that contribute towards this include:

Carers Hospital Discharge Toolkit: Supporting NHS trusts to meet their statutory duty to involve unpaid carers in discharge planning, improving outcomes for both carers and patients.
Carer-friendly workplaces: As part of the West Yorkshire Work and Health Plan, we’re developing employer forums in each Place to equip businesses with training, peer support and resources, such as the Working Carers Passport to better support working carers.
Employers for Carers (EfC) digital access: Free access is now available for all NHS and local authority organisations in West Yorkshire, offering practical tools and guidance for identifying and supporting carers in the workforce.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Accelerating Reform Fund: Projects delivering transformative initiatives, including free access to Carers UK’s Digital Resource for Carers (DRC), offering a comprehensive range of self-help tools and support to enhance carers’ wellbeing. Additional work is also underway to improve access to and availability of respite provision for carers across West Yorkshire.
Primary care carer resource pack: A toolkit for GP practices to better identify and support carers through wellbeing checks, flexible appointments and carer champions - ensuring recognition from first contact with primary care.
Carers app and digital contingency plan: In development, a digital solution that links carers contingency plans to carers’ NHS records, enabling professionals to access and activate contingency plans in the event of a carer’s unexpected absence.

Wherever you work in the health and care system, we all have a part to play in tackling the inequalities unpaid carers face. Whether it’s identifying unpaid carers in your service, helping them access support, or creating more inclusive and flexible workplaces for working carers - we can all make a positive difference. Visit our West Yorkshire unpaid carers programme website pages to explore the many resources we have available - and join us in building a region where unpaid carers are recognised, respected and supported to thrive in their caring roles, at work and in education.

Thank you for reading.

Kulvant

We also have a blog from Jo Lancaster, Senior Project Manager, Unpaid Carers and Personalisation, NHS West Yorkshire ICB, who shares her journey as an unpaid carer for son Toby.

Caring about equality: my story as an unpaid carer

Each year, Carers Week brings a much-needed spotlight on the millions of unpaid carers across the UK. This year’s theme, ‘caring about equality’, deeply resonates with me because, as an unpaid carer, I’ve seen and felt the very real inequalities that come with this role.

I became a carer not by choice, but out of love and necessity when my son Toby was born with Down’s Syndrome and significant health challenges. Instead of being simply parents we became carers - managing medication, helping with daily tasks and being a constant anchor for all parts of daily living. These responsibilities quickly became part of everyday routine. Like many others, I didn’t see myself as a carer at first, I was just doing what needed to be done to keep my son alive and well. But over time, I realised that what I was doing was a full-time caring role - without the pay, without the support and often, without the recognition.

Living with the realities of being a carer

While many carers face significant challenges, I’ve been fortunate in many ways. I’ve always worked somewhere where they have been incredibly understanding, supportive and flexible, allowing me to balance my caring role with my work. This flexibility has been invaluable, ensuring that I can support Toby while also maintaining my career.

I’m also grateful that I don’t personally live with long-term health conditions. However, even with this, caring for Toby has been physically and emotionally demanding being on constant alert 24/7. The journey is far from easy and I’ve experienced my share of stress, worry and exhaustion. But the positive moments like seeing Toby’s infectious smile, his love for life and his ability to find joy in the small things, make every challenge worth it.

Despite these positive aspects of my experience, the reality for many carers is much tougher. Here are some of the statistics that reflect the inequality many carers face:

70% of carers live with a long-term physical or mental health condition
carers are 50% more likely to live in poverty
young adult carers are 38% less likely to achieve a university degree
one in four working carers take on a lower-paid or more junior role

These statistics highlight the struggles faced by many carers. Even for those who are fortunate enough to have flexible work, the demands of caregiving can still be overwhelming, both physically and emotionally.

What needs to change

Caring is an act of love, but it should not come at the cost of a carer’s wellbeing, future or identity. To achieve equality for carers, we need systemic change. That means:

stronger financial support for carers, including benefits that reflect the real cost of caring
flexible employment practices that support working carers to remain in or return to work
access to mental health services specifically tailored to the emotional challenges carers face
inclusive education policies that support young carers in achieving their full potential
recognition and respect for the vital role carers play in the sustainability of our health and social care systems

A guide to supporting carers in primary care

That’s why I’m especially proud to share the new Guide to supporting unpaid carers in primary care, developed by West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership. This resource is a big step toward addressing the inequalities carers face, helping GP practices to better identify, support and value carers from all backgrounds. It includes practical advice, wellbeing checks and a focus on inclusion - recognising the diversity of carers and promoting flexible, culturally sensitive approaches. It’s a real example of what caring about equality looks like in action.

Have a good weekend

£37 million plan to support health and employment across West Yorkshire

A major initiative has launched in West Yorkshire to help people with disabilities or long-term health conditions return to or stay in meaningful work. The ‘Healthy Working Life’ plan, co-created with input from local residents and employers, aims to support economic growth while improving the lives of thousands across the region.

Currently, around 100,000 people in West Yorkshire are out of work due to a disability or health condition. Many of them, according to consultation findings, want to work but feel excluded due to a lack of support or understanding. The strategy not only supports those out of work due to ill health, but also aims to help people stay in their jobs when their health puts them at risk of leaving the workforce.

See the West Yorkshire Combined Authority news webpages for more information.

West Yorkshire NHS leaders recognised

Congratulations to Sara Munro (Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust), Foluke Ajayi (Airedale NHS Foundation Trust) and Mark Brooks (South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust), who have been recognised in the HSJ’s list of top 50 chief executives, which recognises England’s top leaders of NHS trusts.

West Yorkshire project wins national recognition at Antibiotic Guardian Awards

A West Yorkshire project aimed at tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Roma communities has won national recognition at the 2025 Antibiotic Guardian Awards. Developed by Anna Crowther of Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust during her NHS England Population Health Fellowship, the initiative uses a co-production approach to reduce health inequalities through culturally tailored public health strategies. Recognised in the Tackling Health Inequalities in AMR category, the project was celebrated for its innovative and community-driven impact. Read the full article for more on this award-winning initiative.

Airedale welcomes new governors

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust has welcomed seven public governors following elections across Bingley, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven. It’s an exciting time to be a governor as the trust is in the early stages of planning for a new state-of-the-art hospital that will benefit the local community. Governors will be involved in this pivotal planning stage and can help improve the Trust’s services and facilities by sharing feedback from their communities. Find out more on the Trust website.

Pride of Airedale Awards

Staff members and volunteers from across Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and AGH Solutions were honoured at a special event last week. The Pride of Airedale awards were created to recognise the amazing hard work and dedication staff at the Trust have shown over the past year. As well as celebrating teams and leaders of the year, awards were also given to ‘unsung heroes’ and those giving outstanding patient care. Find out more on the Trust website.

Planting hope at Pinderfields Hospital; Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust supports Doctors in Distress

The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust has proudly announced support for a initiative aimed at fostering both environmental sustainability and mental health awareness at Pinderfields Hospital. In partnership with the Doctors in Distress charity, which is dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of healthcare professionals, the Trust has planted 20 orchard trees and a memorial rowan tree on hospital grounds. Find out more on the Trust website.

Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate service

The Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate service in West Yorkshire is part of a national pilot programme to support women and families in England. The programme has now moved into the evaluation and service improvement phase. For this reason, the service is now closed to new referrals until further notice. Alternative advocacy support services and other local contacts are available on the Partnership website.

Infected Blood Psychological Service open to referrals

All people infected and affected by the contaminated blood scandal in England can now access bespoke psychological support through the Infected Blood Psychological Service (IBPS).

Infected and affected people can self-refer by calling 0300 131 0444. Trained personnel are available from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Callers will need to provide basic contact details and will be connected with the most appropriate local IBPS centre. There are 16 centres around the country.

Once someone has been assessed by the IBPS, if support is required, a psychological review will be undertaken and treatment provided by `specialist clinicians who have expertise in issues facing those infected or affected by the contaminated blood scandal.

A full range of services offered by the IBPS can be found on a new IBPS website. Future additions to the service will include access to virtual peer support forums and signposting to additional support for benefits, housing services, employment and financial advice.