Unpaid Carers Focus Group: March 2026
The project aims to explore women’s experiences of preventing, identifying and managing heart-related conditions, identify gaps in support, and inform recommendations to improve services.
What we did
Healthwatch Isle of Wight worked in partnership with Carers IW to organise a focus group with unpaid carers on the Island. The session explored carers’ experiences of cardiovascular health, including prevention, diagnosis and treatment, as well as the challenges they face in managing their own health while caring for others.
The insights gathered from this session will contribute to the wider engagement programme being undertaken by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board and will help inform recommendations aimed at improving cardiovascular health services and support for women across the region.
Key findings
The key themes that were identified are:
- Carers neglecting their own health
- Health checks are often missed
- Carers have high Cardiovascular disease risk factors
- Access to GP services is difficult
- Carer role is not always recognised.
Conclusion
Overall, the findings show that unpaid female carers are at risk of their own health being neglected. Supporting carers with regular health checks, improved access to services, recognition of their caring role, and compassionate, person-centred care could help reduce stress, improve prevention and early diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, and ensure carers remain well enough to continue providing vital support to those who depend on them.
Read the full report
To read the full report with suggested solutions please click below.
