UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – British govt faces backlash over stalled adult social care talks, as Liberal Democrats cite months-long delays and lack of urgency on reform.
As reported by The Guardian, ministers face criticism over inaction, as essential talks to build consensus on adult social care reform have yet to begin, raising concern over delays.
What did Liberal Democrats say about the delay in social care talks?
The Liberal Democrats have slammed the government for not holding any cross-party discussions on the social care crisis, despite announcing plans to create a national care service four months ago.
Helen Morgan, the Lib Dems’ health and social care spokesperson, stated,
“If it’s taking almost two months and counting to schedule a single meeting, I have serious concerns about the focus at the top of government needed to successfully undertake and implement this review.”
She said,
“Ministers’ handling of these cross-party talks smells of a government that has put rescuing social care in the ‘too difficult’ pile. Their failure to grasp the nettle means that a review that could have been completed within a year is instead taking three, with ministers risking even longer delays because of their failure to get these talks off the ground.”
Ms Morgan added,
“For years under the conservatives, [social care] was shamefully neglected, with patients bearing the brunt. Now, the Labour government is taking an approach of kicking the can down the road rather than facing up to the challenges of fixing this broken system.”
What did the government say about building a national care service?
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care stated,
“This government is committed to building national, cross-party consensus to create a fair and affordable adult social care system for all.”
They added,
“This is why the prime minister has asked Baroness Louise Casey to lead an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards building a national care service.”
What did Wes Streeting say about the need for national consensus on social care reform?
Health Secretary Wes Streeting warned that without national consensus, older people could be left without support, and the NHS may be overwhelmed by the struggling social care system.
To address social care reforms, Mr Streeting appointed Louise Casey to lead the commission, aiming to secure cross-party deal for reform. He blamed “bad politics” for past reform failures.
Lady Casey was appointed in January to lead a report on child sexual abuse gangs, delaying her role in the social care commission, though the government claims it won’t affect her duties.
Once her grooming gangs report is concluded, she has committed to organizing meetings, with officials citing scheduling conflicts for all parties.
Why has adult social care reform been delayed for decades?
For more than 20 years, adult social care reform has been stalled, as governments of all political stripes have failed to overcome political hesitation and a lack of consensus hindering progress.
Social care experts slammed the government’s three-year reform timeline in January, arguing that changes could be made within a year, focusing more on what needs to be done than how.
How are care providers handling rising costs?
The adult social care sector faces severe financial strain, with care providers calling for immediate reform after the rise in national insurance and minimum wage hikes, adding £2.8bn to their expenses.
Care providers are facing tough decisions due to rising unfunded costs, with many considering returning unviable contracts, evicting residents, cutting staff, or freezing wages.
key points of the social care reforms:
- Introduction of a new workforce strategy to address recruitment and retention in the care sector.
- Enhanced pay and benefits for care workers to improve job satisfaction and retention.
- Plans for the integration of health and care services to provide more seamless patient care.
- Investment in new technology and training for care workers.
- Support for unpaid family carers, including financial assistance and respite care.
- Increased funding for local councils to improve social care services and infrastructure.
- Creation of a National Social Care Institute to focus on quality improvement and innovation in social care.