Website of the Department of Health

New commitments in the strategy include:

• £150 million towards planned short breaks for carers
• £38 million towards supporting carers to enter or re-enter the job market
• £6 million towards improving support for young carers.

Other schemes include the piloting of annual health checks for carers to help them stay well and training for GPs to recognise and support carers. A more integrated and personalised support service for carers will be offered through easily accessible information, targeted training for key professionals to support carers, and pilots to examine how the NHS can better support carers.

Health Secretary, Alan Johnson said: 'To say that carers are unsung heroes and heroines is without doubt an understatement. They do an amazing job and deserve our respect, our understanding and our support.

 This new strategy is another big step forward, and has the commitment of seven Government Departments, carers and those who work with them. It is broader than health, looking also at housing, benefits and education.'

There are currently about 5.2 million carers in England and Wales. Nearly half of them provide more than 20 hours care a week and over a million provide more than 50 hours care per week. The demand for care will rise, with the number of people over 85, those most in need of care, rising by over 50 percent in the next 10 years. 

• Further carers information