Crossroads Care Surrey has long since warned that unpaid carers across Surrey are being pushed to breaking point following the removal of funded respite care. This is at a time when NHS services across the county are facing unprecedented winter pressures.
With local hospital trusts declaring critical incidents, the charity says the loss of preventative support for carers is increasing risks for families and placing further strain on already overstretched NHS services.
If you are an unpaid carer in Surrey and need support, you can find help on our Support for Carers in Surrey page.
NHS Services in Surrey Under Unprecedented Winter Pressure
Hospitals and community health services across Surrey are experiencing extraordinary demand this winter. Rising cases of flu and norovirus, combined with staff shortages and high bed occupancy, have left emergency departments, GP practices and community services struggling to cope.
NHS leaders have warned that services are at risk of becoming overwhelmed — not only by serious illness, but also by avoidable pressures that arise when families are left without adequate support in the community.
Preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and delayed discharges has never been more critical.
Unpaid Carers: The Backbone of Health and Care in Surrey
Unpaid carers play a vital role in Surrey’s health and care system. Every day, they support family members and friends with complex needs, often preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and enabling people to remain safely at home.
However, caring without regular breaks comes at a cost. Without access to respite care, many carers experience exhaustion, declining physical and mental health, and burnout. This increases the likelihood that both carers and the people they care for will require urgent medical support.
Learn more about the role of unpaid carers and the support we provide locally on our About Crossroads Care Surrey page.
Cuts to Funded Respite Care Leave Families Vulnerable
Last year, Crossroads Care Surrey raised concerns that Surrey County Council’s decision to end its funded respite care contract early would place additional pressure on carers and NHS services, particularly during the winter months.
Those concerns have now become reality.
Hundreds of unpaid carers across Surrey have lost the weekly respite support they previously relied on to:
- Rest and recover
- Attend medical appointments
- Maintain their own wellbeing
- Continue caring safely at home
While the Council stated that removing funded respite would allow support to reach more people, the replacement £300 one-off voucher scheme was used by only 234 people. This is fewer than the 274 carers who were receiving funded respite care before it was withdrawn.
Preventative Support Keeps Pressure Out of the NHS
“Respite care helps prevent crisis before it happens,” said Terry Hawkins, CEO of Crossroads Care Surrey.
“When carers are supported, families are more stable and pressure is kept out of GP surgeries, emergency departments and hospital wards.”
Research by Carers UK and the Centre for Care estimates that unpaid carers provide care worth £184 billion every year. This is the equivalent of running the NHS itself. Yet many carers in Surrey still receive little or no formal support.
Respite Care Is Not a Luxury. It’s Essential
“Respite care isn’t a luxury,” added Hawkins.
“Without adequate support, carers are at higher risk of burnout, which almost inevitably leads to increased GP visits, delayed discharges and unavoidable hospital admissions.
“With the NHS under extreme pressure across Surrey, we should be strengthening community support, not removing vital preventative services.”
Find out how respite care works and how we support carers locally on our Respite Care Services in Surrey page.
Action Being Taken By Crossroads Care Surrey
Crossroads Care Surrey is calling on:
- Surrey County Council to recognise respite care as an essential preventative service for unpaid carers and to provide sustainable funding
- Health and care partners across Surrey to work collaboratively to ensure carers are supported to remain well at home
- Local residents, businesses and community organisations to recognise and support unpaid carers through understanding, flexibility, community action and signposting to support
How You Can Help Unpaid Carers in Surrey
If you are an unpaid carer, or know someone who is, support is available.
- Get support: Visit our Carer Support Services page
- Refer a carer: Use our Contact Us page to get in touch
- Support our work: Learn how to Donate or Fundraise
- Stay informed: Follow us for local updates affecting carers in Surrey
Unpaid carers are a cornerstone of Surrey’s communities and health system. Supporting them is not only the right thing to do, it is essential to protecting families and safeguarding the NHS.
