'Newport Carers Forum saved my life. It's like having a second supportive family.' These are the words of Chris Kemp-Philp, one of my constituents. They demonstrate the vital importance of providing support to carers and what that support means. I'm delighted to see Chris, Janet Morgan and other familiar faces from the forum in the public gallery this evening. Newport Carers Forum was formed by Janet in 2010 and gives carers the opportunity to speak to others who understand what they're going through. I know that you all carry out your caring roles with such dedication and humility and would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you'—thank you not just to those of you who are here today but to all those carers and those supporting them across every part of Wales. Your contribution to our society is often overlooked, and so many stories go untold. This has to change.

Increasing awareness is crucial, and it was a pleasure to host a recent event in the Senedd marking Carers Week. It's always important to celebrate and focus our minds during Carers Week, but we know that being a carer for many is a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, 52-weeks-a-year role. That event, like this short debate, is a means of shining a light on a hidden unpaid workforce, of highlighting an issue here in the Senedd that affects thousands of people across Wales. At one time in our lives every one of us is likely to be either cared for or a carer ourselves. With an ageing population living longer, many with complex needs, it's crucial to ensure that we have a professional workforce ready for now and the future, yet we also know that staff recruitment and retention in this sector is facing a crisis. While a paid care workforce will be crucial now and in the future, we will always as a society rely on unpaid carers, usually a family member, loved one or friends.

Carers hold families together, ensure people can be cared for at home, saving our health and social care services. They underpin our national health service and social care system, and there's no doubt that we could not do without them. Caring roles in Wales have been valued at £8.1 billion, yet sadly 72 per cent of carers feel that their contribution is not appreciated. This is incredibly unbalanced. Caring saves the Welsh economy around four times the amount spent on all forms of social care, and this comes at a personal cost to the carers. As a society, we need to acknowledge the impact caring has on someone's health and their future prospects and the importance of respite. We must recognise the unique expertise carers have and how valuable they are to our community and our society.

The impact that caring can have on both physical and mental health can be debilitating and long lasting. The survey conducted last year found that 40 per cent of carers said that they had not had a day off in over a year. Carers need regular breaks to safeguard their own health and well-being, enabling them to continue caring and to allow them to live a life alongside their caring responsibilities. As the Older People's Commissioner for Wales has said, respite should not be viewed as

'a break from the burden of caring'

—not just that. We must do more to support and look after our carers. Quality of life can be adversely affected by caring, particularly for older carers. Conditions like arthritis, high blood pressure and back problems are common amongst older carers and, if left without the right support, the physical process of caring can exacerbate this even further. Carers can feel mentally exhausted, which is often worsened by worry, anxiety and lack of sleep caused by the challenges of caring. Around 65 per cent of older carers, those aged 60 to 94, have a long-term health problem or disability themselves. Sixty-eight per cent of carers say that being a carer has had an adverse effect on their mental health, with a third reporting that they have cancelled treatment or an operation for themselves because of their caring responsibilities.

Many will give their all to support a loved one, but nobody should be put in a position where they're sacrificing their own health. And if the health of a carer fails, then it often puts the cared-for in a crisis situation. Increasing numbers of older people assuming caring responsibilities have highlighted the need for the UK Government to review carers allowance as the main benefit for carers. The allowance currently stops when the state pension starts, and many carers feel strongly that carers allowance should be paid in addition to the basic state pension. Their efforts save millions for the NHS, and I'd welcome the deputy Minister's assurance that the Welsh Government is exerting pressure on the UK Government to review carers allowance payments.