“It’s time to care for carers” - that’s the call from one councillor after new data showed there are more than 35,000 unpaid registered unpaid carers across the Dorset Council region.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics showed there were 35,505 unpaid carers in Dorset Council at the time of the 2021 Census: 10,575 of whom worked more than 50 hours each week.

Jo Dolbear, who runs the Portland Carers Support Group, said she was ‘amazed’ by the figures but added that there would be many thousands who were unregistered.

She said ‘a lot of people don’t know how to acknowledge that they are carers: it’s just part of their daily life’.

Ms Dolbear is calling upon stakeholders to ‘pull in the same direction’.

She said: “When I started caring (in 1991) I was luckily quite a lot younger and I just about managed to cope: looking at people now who are (in Portland Carers Support Group) they are all mostly elderly and coping with having to care for another elderly person. I don’t know how they do it. Caring for someone else is never something you plan for in life but everyone that does it is incredible.

“We’ve always been told the NHS and social services should work together but if only they would then that would be wonderful.”

“But actually Carer Support Dorset set up and they care about carers. I praise them to the hilt - they have got all the knowledge to support carers and what they’ve established is excellent. At last there’s something to be proud of.”

Councillor Jon Orrell, meanwhile, said there were ‘two sides to the topic’ and said cuts had hit disabled people and their families the hardest.

“As a GP this decade of cuts was seen to be hitting disabled people and their families. Respite care vanished. Day centres closed. Local NHS beds disappeared. 

"The need to totally reform the care sector has long been known. The Dilnot report 2011 set out the challenges and options. The nettle remains ungrasped. Unpaid carers fill the void and disappear from the workplace. Our economy suffers along with the families. It's time to care for the carers”, Cllr Orrell said.

Cllr Peter Wharf, Dorset Council's portfolio holder for adult social care and health, said carers played a ‘vital role’ in communities.

He added: “We know many people who take on this role do not register as carers. This can be for a number of reasons, including not recognising themselves as a carer, not feeling they need more support, not being aware support is there for them and sometimes, being fearful of outside help.

“We can also offer a carer assessment which can help identify the support carers may need to stay well and continue to have a life outside their caring role.

 “With our partners and commissioned services, we continue to work to raise awareness and understanding of carers, the support available to carers of all ages and to break down barriers to accessing support, while recognising and respecting that people do manage successfully without our help.  

“I urge adults who regularly look after a family member or friend unpaid, to get in touch with our colleagues at Carer Support Dorset on 0800 3688349 or visit their website www.carersupportdorset.co.uk and for young carers or their families to contact us on 01305 228866 to explore all the free support on offer.”