Caregivers spend 12 hours a month managing loved one’s healthcare, whilst neglecting their own

Parents and carers in the UK are spending so much time looking after others that they are neglecting their own health - and in many cases paying a heavy price.

New research from AXA Health Insurance reveals that those with caring responsibilities lose an average of 12 hours every month coordinating the healthcare of their loved ones, the equivalent of a day swallowed up by appointments, admin and emotional support. ²

For families under extra strain, the burden is even heavier. Parents of children with special educational needs spend 29 hours a month managing care, while those with children living with long-term conditions spend 23 hours every month.

The knock-on effect is stark. More than half of those who have caring responsibilities for someone other than themselves (53%) admit they have ignored or delayed medical treatment for themselves because they were too busy prioritising others. Two in five (39%) went on to receive a diagnosis they believe could have been caught earlier – a figure that rises to almost half (49%) among under-35s.

The findings come following the Government’s plans to launch a new NHS online hospital service in 2027. While the initiative promises to save patients valuable time, AXA Health’s research highlights just how urgently this is needed, with families already stretched to breaking point. Greater access to online healthcare could ease the administrative load, reduce stress, and give parents the flexibility to look after themselves as well as their loved ones.

Women, single parents and SEN families under strain
Women, single parents and families of children with special educational needs (SEN) bear the greatest strain. Almost half of women (48%) see themselves as the household’s healthcare coordinator, compared with just a third of men (34%). Two thirds of SEN parents (65%) say they always put others’ health first, while two thirds (65%) have been forced to use annual leave simply to get their child seen. 

For single parents, the pressure is relentless, with 42% saying their child’s healthcare is more complicated because they carry the full responsibility alone.

The emotional toll
The emotional toll is equally severe. Over half of parents (52%) say they constantly put others before themselves, while half (49%) admit their own health is always at the bottom of the list. Over one in three (37%) feel unable to prioritise it at all. 

Stress also runs high, with 43% of parents who manage their child’s healthcare describing it as stressful, and almost one in five confessing to guilt or anxiety about taking time away from those they care for, for their own appointments (19%).

Jason Elsom, CEO at Parentkind, who is supporting the campaign, said: “Parents today are under immense pressure to keep their families healthy, yet this research shows just how much of that responsibility comes at their own expense. Parents need practical solutions that recognise their time is stretched thin, which is why having access to flexible, online healthcare that fits around modern family life can make a difference. When parents are supported to look after themselves, they’re better able to care for everyone else too.”

Online healthcare as a solution
Despite these pressures, the research highlights the potential of online care as a solution to better support the modern family. Of the 21% who have used online healthcare and found it helpful,  three in five (61%) said it gave them time back, almost one in three (29%) said it reduced stress, and crucially over a third (34%) said it helped them stay on top of their own health.

Heather Smith, CEO at AXA Health Insurance, said: “Too often, families are forced to choose between caring for others and caring for themselves. The Government’s plans for an NHS online hospital are a really positive step towards making care more accessible and flexible – something we at AXA Health have championed. Online healthcare isn’t about replacing face-to-face care but about giving people choice and freeing up precious time. The private sector has a vital role to play in supporting the NHS by offering innovative, complementary services that help families stay well. When people can access care more easily, the ripple effects are clear – earlier intervention, fewer crises, and a stronger, more resilient health system overall.”