UNPAID carers are being urged to give their views on the pandemic to try and tackle issues.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Healthwatch England are making a call for feedback from carers across the North-East following a year of "enormous challenges".

The year-long campaign aims to encourage more people to share their individual experiences, to help the NHS and social care services identify and address quality issues and provide the best care possible.

A CQC spokesperson said: "We are asking unpaid carers who provide care and support to family members, friends and neighbours, that may be affected by a disability, physical or mental ill-health, frailty or substance misuse to tell us about the care that they witness.

"This could be in care homes, hospitals or at home. Both positive and negative feedback is welcome."

Kate Terroni, chief inspector of adult social care at CQC, said: “There are 6.5 million unpaid carers in England and their voices are extremely powerful.

“We are incredibly grateful that many carers have already shared their experiences of what care is like when delivered in their own home, in care homes, hospitals and GPs - good and bad – this is vital intelligence to CQC and really does make a difference.

“By the end of December we carried out over 1900 risk-based inspections using vital intelligence, including from carers and members of the public. I’d like to make a plea that carers continue to talk to us about what care is like as they are our eyes and ears on the ground.“

Concerns shared with CQC help to identify poor care quickly and take action.

People can give feedback on their experiences on the CQC website or through their local Healthwatch.

Local Healthwatch organisations can also help with advice and information.