Supporting family carers in the UK: overview of issues and challenges.

Support for family carers is currently a policy priority in both health and social care. However, despite the launch of the Carers' National Strategy there is a need for further innovation if services are to be optimally effective. This article identifies a number of issues and challenges for the future if family carers are to receive the type and level of support they need. It highlights the need to think more clearly about the intended outcomes of services supporting carers and about the range and type of interventions that should be provided if such outcomes are to be achieved.