On 1 October 2012 over 150 carers filled the Scottish Parliament in the UK's first ever Carers’ Parliament. Carers, who are the heart of the care system, were briefly at the centre of Scottish politics, with their voices replacing those of our elected representatives.

For many it was an opportunity to celebrate how far we have come in recognising the immense contribution carers make to our communities. Certainly over the last few years politicians from all parties have been vocal in their support of carers, keen to recognise their ‘sacrifices’ and their role as ‘unsung heroes’.

On the surface things are moving in the right direction for carers. Emerging health and social care policy is littered with references to how important it is to support carers, to consult with them and recognise their role as contributors to care provision. There is also no doubt that there have been improvements in the support carers can access, not least through the development of the network of carer centres, which can now be found in almost every local area.

But how do carers themselves view the current care system and the transformational changes planned for it? And if it is in crisis, how is it affecting them?

Many of the carers who spoke in the debate acknowledged that the policy was often right, but they were badly let down by the systems and processes that seem determined to keep them from the accessing the support they need. One carer talked about her eight-year struggle to get a diagnosis for her son, another about the eight months it took to get a shower seat; others spoke about giving up their jobs, then seeing their savings eroded due to loss of income and the additional costs related to caring. One carer simply said: ‘What I require is sleep – respite a few nights a week, but not every area offers this.’ Another spoke of needing an operation, but of having to discharge herself from hospital because nobody was there to pick up the care at home.

Carers don't want to be ‘unsung heroes’. They want prompt access to quality services for the people they look after, they want to be able to get a break for themselves when they need it, they want the same training and safeguards that paid workers enjoy.