Hounslow Council is considering providing council tax relief for unpaid carers as part of a broader effort to support those who provide essential care to residents. The council estimates that unpaid carers save the NHS an estimated £162 billion annually.
The potential relief was discussed at the Health and Adults Care Scrutiny Panel meeting on 3 November 2025, where the panel reviewed notes from an informal meeting held on 9 September 2025.
Barbara Benedek, who cares for her husband with dementia, shared her experiences with the panel, emphasising the complexity of navigating multiple services and the need for a simplified system. She suggested practical assistance for carers, such as council tax relief and transport, as well as a single care coordinator as a consistent point of contact.
The panel also discussed the New Model of Care, focusing on improving patient experience and addressing systemic fragmentation. Key themes included the need for a single point of contact for patients and better integration across services. Roger Smith, who volunteers in the community, expressed strong support for the New Model of Care, while raising issues such as the high incidence of falls linked to faulty chairs and challenges for individuals with multiple conditions. The September 9 meeting notes indicate that the New Model of Care was seen as the right direction to address these concerns.
Panel members raised concerns about system fragmentation, carer breakdown, and the revolving door syndrome
of patients being repeatedly discharged and readmitted. They emphasised the importance of building trust through trial results, engaging communities, and reaching vulnerable groups through referrals and word-of-mouth.
The September 9 meeting notes also detailed plans to continue engagement with patients and carers to capture lived experience. Future actions include developing clear metrics to measure the impact of the New Model of Care. Both quantitative measures (e.g., service uptake, hospital readmission rates) and qualitative, anecdotal evidence (e.g., patient and carer stories) are essential to capture the full picture of impact and user experience. From April 2026, GPs will recommend patients to the voluntary sector.
The Health and Adults Care Scrutiny Panel is scheduled to meet again on 3 March 2026. The agenda and reports pack for the 3 November meeting are available online.
