BEXLEY and Bromley are among the top five boroughs in London for the proportion of residents who are unpaid carers, according to a new report.

Bexley is third in the capital with 10.1 per cent of residents – or 23,522 people – caring for a friend or relative without financial reward.

Bromley is just behind in fourth on 10 per cent with its 31,012 unpaid carers the third highest total in London behind Croyden and Barnet.

Havering and Harrow top the table drawn up by principal paid care sector union the GMB using figures from the 2011 census.

According to the numbers, around 37 per cent of unpaid carers in Bexley and 31 per cent in Bromley provide more than 20 hours of unpaid care a week.

In London as a whole there are nearly 690,000 unpaid carers (8.4 per cent of the population) while in England and Wales the figure is just over 5.8 million or 10.3 per cent.

GMB regional secretary for London Paul Hayes said: “In many boroughs there are far more unpaid carers than actual paid care providers in place and the hidden army of unpaid carers consists of predominately women.”

"The impact of caring responsibilities has a huge impact on a carer’s health.

“A radical overhaul of the current approach to paid and unpaid care is needed from society as a whole.”

For more information about national carers from June 10 to 16, visit carersweek.org

Unpaid carers in London

Total number of unpaid carers and percentage of total residents by borough:

  1. Havering 25,214 (10.6)
  2. Harrow 24,620 (10.3)
  3. Bexley 23,522 (10.1)
  4. Bromley 31,012 (10)
  5. Redbridge 27,291 (9.8)

 

Are you an unpaid carer or are you cared for by someone who does it for free? E-mail tim.macfarlan@london.newsquest.co.uk or tweet @NewsShopperTim