Emergency Respite Care: What to Do When a Carer Falls Ill (2026)

In short: if anyone is in danger, call 999. If a carer suddenly falls ill and nobody can step in, contact adult social services at the council. When the council office is closed, ring its emergency duty team. A simple emergency plan, made now, makes all of this much easier.

Who to call, and when

• 999: Carers UK says do not hesitate to call 999 if anyone is at immediate risk of harm.
• NHS 111: you can call if you feel unwell, or on behalf of the person you look after.
• Family, friends or neighbours: the NHS suggests having someone who could step in for a few hours while proper arrangements are made.
• Adult social services: if you cannot organise other care, Carers UK says to contact your council or health care provider.

Out of hours: the emergency duty team

Carers UK says that when the council office is closed and you need urgent help, there will be an emergency duty team you can contact. Search online for "emergency duty team" and the name of your council. In Northern Ireland, contact your local Health and Social Care Trust.

Hours and phone numbers differ by council. For example:

• Ealing: the team covers weekday evenings and nights, weekends, and 24 hours on bank holidays. It can activate a carer's emergency support plan for carers who hold the council's emergency card.
• BCP Council (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole): the line is open outside office hours and on all bank holidays, including Christmas Day. It deals with adults in crisis who need urgent social care.

These teams deal with situations that cannot safely wait until the next working day. BCP says it can only take immediate action if it believes someone is at serious risk.

Emergency respite in a care home

The NHS warns that it can be difficult to get respite in a care home at short notice. Some homes do take emergency stays. Phone homes near the person, ask whether they have a room now, and check they can meet the person's needs.

Who pays depends on the usual rules. Emergency care the council arranges may be charged for under its charging policy. Wandsworth Council, for example, says emergency care under its carer's card scheme may be chargeable. If the person pays for their own care, they pay the home directly.

Carer's emergency card schemes

Carers UK says some areas run emergency card schemes for carers, often set up by the council or a local carers' centre. They may be called a carer card scheme, a carers emergency card or an emergency care scheme. Carers Trust says most of these schemes are free.

• You register, and with help you write an emergency plan, which the scheme keeps.
• You carry a card with a 24-hour phone number and an ID number, so no personal details are on the card.
• If something happens to you, anyone with you can ring the number. The scheme follows your plan, for example by calling a named friend or arranging other care.

Carers Trust says these schemes don't usually cover planned absences, such as an appointment. Ask your local carers' organisation or council whether there is a scheme in your area.

What to prepare in advance

Carers UK advises every carer to make an emergency plan. It suggests bringing together:

• the name, address and contact details of the person you look after;
• who you both want contacted in an emergency;
• their medicines and where they are kept, any allergies, and any ongoing treatment;
• their GP and pharmacy, and any care services they already have;
• continence products and who supplies them, and any mobility aids;
• anything about their behaviour that others should know.

The NHS adds a few practical steps:

• Make sure your back-up person has door keys, or knows the code to a key safe.
• Leave written notes about the care needed, including medicines and any dos and don'ts, somewhere easy to find.

Carers UK also suggests packing a hospital bag for the person you look after, sharing the plan with the people named in it, and reviewing it regularly. Its free MyBackUp tool helps you build a plan step by step.

For planned breaks, see what respite care is. If the person has dementia, read dementia respite care.

Related guides

• Respite Care over Christmas and Holidays: Booking Early
• Respite Care Costs: Weekly Care Home Fees and Who Pays

Sources

• Getting help in an emergency (Carers UK)
• Carers' breaks and respite care (NHS)
• Emergency schemes for carers (Carers Trust)
• Care and support statutory guidance, chapter 5 (GOV.UK)
• Emergency duty team (Ealing Council)
• Contact the adult social care emergency duty service (BCP Council)
• Getting help in an emergency (Wandsworth Council)