Around one in ten women in some areas of north London spend at least part of their time providing unpaid care, census data shows.

In Enfield and Harrow, 9.7% of women acted as unpaid carers, compared to less than 8% of their male counterparts.

For women aged 55 to 59, this number was even higher. Almost one in five women in Barnet care for loved ones compared to 12.4% of men in the borough.

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The Enfield Independent recently reported the story of Elizabeth Wooley, an unpaid carer for her husband Lee, who has faced issues getting him to his hospital apppointments.

This trend, with a higher proportion of women providing unpaid care than men, was replicated across north London.

Harrow recorded the highest number of unpaid carers in north London, accounting for 8.6% of the population.

But north London boroughs have seen a noticeable drop in the number of unpaid carers compared to the last census in 2011.

For example, in Barnet, 10.8% of the population said they were an unpaid carer a decade ago, compared to 8.4% at the most recent census.

Kirsty McHugh, chief executive of the Carers Trust, believes restrictions introduced during the pandemic likely accounted for this fall.

She said: “We believe that the true number of unpaid carers is far higher than the census suggests.

“The fact it took place in the middle of a pandemic when many people were unable to visit those for whom they cared… means that many people may not have identified themselves as unpaid carers.”

Older people were also more likely to have to provide extensive care for loved ones in north London.

In Enfield, 5.4% of 75- to 79-year-olds spent more than 50 hours a week working as an unpaid carer.

Age UK said many older people are having to take on this burden because of a lack of “good, formal, affordable care”.

The charity's director Caroline Abrahams said: “Many admit to being exhausted and worried about how long they can continue, and the consequences if they become seriously ill themselves.

“They are all too often being left to shoulder an enormous amount of responsibility and hard work, without any prospect of a real break.”

The number of unpaid carers across north London was as follows:

  • Barnet – 28,810 (8.4%)
  • Brent – 22,840 (7.7%)
  • Camden – 14,610 (7.9%)
  • Enfield – 24,605 (8.5%)
  • Hackney – 16,330 (7.6%)
  • Haringey – 16,890 (7.2%)
  • Harrow – 20,040 (8.6%)
  • Islington – 14,835 (8.1%)

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