Not on the radar – Scotland’s unpaid carers are still not recognised as equal partners in care

A new report from the Commission shows that unpaid carers across the country are often excluded from key decisions about the care and treatment of their relatives, despite years of legislation, strategies and recommendations designed to improve their rights and support.

A disconnect in carers’ experiences across Scotland

The report reveals a divide: while the majority of the 109 health and social care practitioners surveyed believe they work well with carers, the 371 carers who shared their experiences report a consistently different perspective. Furthermore, the perspectives of young carers are critically underrepresented in our report; with only three respondents, this group remains particularly difficult to reach and support.

Significant personal impact

A consistent theme from carers was the struggle to be included and respected as partners in care. Many described the personal cost of caring, including cancelled medical appointments, reduced working hours, social isolation and declining health.

One carer told the Commission:
“Being an unpaid carer has affected every aspect of my life. I have never just been able to be in the role of ‘mum’.”

The Commission warns that the long-standing reliance on unpaid carers is intensifying as services face budget pressures and a lack of community support. Increasingly, unpaid care is becoming the only available support, but it is taking a heavy toll on the carers' own health and wellbeing.

Considering these findings, the report makes a central recommendation to the Scottish Government: to explicitly strengthen the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 to ensure services are legally required to treat carers as equal partners and to demonstrate this in practice.

Claire Lamza, executive director (nursing) of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, said:

“Unpaid carers contribute so much, but far too often at a cost to themselves. Our report shows a clear and persistent gap between the aim of including carers and what actually happens day-to-day.”
“We need decisive action to close this gap. The Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 must be used to create a clear legal duty for services to involve carers at every stage. This is essential to turn good intentions into real change for the carers supporting their loved ones.”