Every year, Carers UK publishes The State of Caring Report, which is the UK’s most comprehensive research into the lives and experience of carers. 

The 2022 survey closed on 11 September and the final report was published on 8 November. 2022 saw the largest ever number of responses, with over 13,000 current and former carers engaging with the survey and sharing their experiences of caring in the last year. 

Key highlights of the State of Caring Report 2022 include:

• Many carers are facing serious difficulties in getting NHS treatment, with a third (34%) of those waiting for specialist treatment or assessment waiting for over a year. 
• Two thirds of those (67%) waiting for treatment said that waiting is having a negative impact on their physical or mental health. 
• 41% of carers haven’t taken a break from their caring role in the last year.
• Half of all carers (51%) took over a year to recognise their caring role, with over a third (36%) taking over three years to recognise themselves as a carer.
• 75% of carers worry about continuing to juggle work and care going forward.
• With many services being reduced or cut completely, carers are extremely worried about the future: 61% said they were uncertain about what practical support they might be able to access in the next 12 months.