Our Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) is proud to be working alongside the University of Strathclyde and Lanarkshire Carers in a new initiative aimed at strengthening the support, recognition, and training available to Scotland’s unpaid carers.

More than 800,000 unpaid carers in Scotland look after a loved one due to illness, disability or age-related frailty. As the population ages and health and care services face growing pressures, carers are playing an increasingly vital – but often overlooked – role in keeping our communities going.

The survey is the first step in the Future Hospital initiative, led by John Connaghan and Dr Kieren Egan at Strathclyde and involving our HSCP and charity Lanarkshire Carers.

The new project, funded by the Wellcome Trust’s Collaborative Cultures award, seeks to better understand the needs, insights, and experiences of carers in order to design innovative, long-term solutions for carers and those they care for.

Mr Connaghan, a research assistant in Strathclyde’s Department of Computer and Information Sciences, said: “This project is unique because it’s moving beyond the usual silos of knowledge to build a more sustainable and impactful way of working – one that truly values carers as equal partners in shaping the future.”

The survey, co-designed with carers, seeks honest feedback from carers, professionals and academics on how to work together to tackle key issues such as quality of life, skills training, and financial support.

Fred Beckett, our HSCP's Carer Lead, said: “This is a critical moment. We need to move beyond one-off projects and invest in long-term relationships. Unpaid carers must have a seat at the table as our NHS and care systems evolve.”

Carers’ input will directly inform a series of workshops, focus groups, and pilot projects later this year, culminating in a set of recommendations on how to support and sustain carer involvement long into the future.

To complete the survey please visit Collaborative Cultures Carers Survey. 

For more information, please contact: John.connaghan@strath.ac.uk.