The Government has announced the creation of a National Care Service to reform adult social care but warned that the commission’s final report is unlikely before 2028.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting announced the launch of the independent commission led by Baroness Louise Casey to stabilise the care sector, invest in prevention and in carers and care workers.
Streeting said: ‘It will take time, but Casey’s work will finally grasp this nettle and set our country on the path to building a national care service that meets the urgent need of our generation, guarantees quality care to all who need it, and lasts long into the future, no matter which government is in power.’
- Plans to reform social care have ‘gone awry,’ warn MPs
- Social care sector overworked and ‘remains in peril’, say health leaders
- Health leaders warn of impending ‘break down’ in social care, despite £600 million funding boost
The announcement comes as the latest NHS England data revealed that in November more than 12,400 patients who were well enough to leave had to stay overnight because of lack of care available in the community. Data also found that without long term reforms, real social care costs are expected to double by 2038 compared to 2018, which is a cause of concern with a rising ageing population in England.
The commission will be split over two phases. The first report will be submitted to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in mid-2026 and look at the issues facing social care with recommendations for medium-term reforms. However, the Government has warned that the second report ‘will take time’ and is not likely to be delivered until 2028.
Health leaders and charities have welcomed the announcement but warned that delaying the report till 2028 is too long for people needing care.
Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN general secretary and chief executive said that the reforms are a ‘step in the right direction but the delay will not solve the crisis’.
‘Social care lacks funding and is gripped by widespread vacancies, with the numbers of registered nurses declining. Nursing staff deliver the vast majority of care in the sector and must be central to any attempts to turn things around. Vulnerable people needing care cannot wait until 2028 for change and neither can the over-worked, underpaid nursing staff who care for them,’ she said.
Sarah Woolnough, chief executive at the King’s Fund said Labour’s plans could help ‘break the cycle of failure to reform social care’.
‘We believe the first phase of the commission should focus on funding and on measures the Government could quickly get on with implementing, such as work to improve the use of data and technology in the social care sector, better integration with the NHS and making adult social care a more attractive career.
‘But we urge the Government to accelerate the timing of the second phase of the commission which focuses on creating a fair and affordable social care system. The current timetable to report by 2028 is far too long to wait for people who need social care, and their families.’
Alongside the launch of the commission, the Government has confirmed an extra £86 million by April to help more than 7,600 elderly and disabled people remain in their homes and access better care. Other changes include better career pathways and upskilling opportunities for care workers, better use of technology to support elderly people to live at home for longer and a new digital platform to share medical information between NHS and care staff.