A poll of 100 English MPs has found just one in 10 believe the current social care system is suitable for the UK’s ageing population.
The poll, commissioned by older people’s charity Independent Age, also found 86% believe a cross-party consensus is needed for a lasting settlement on health and social care.
Chief executive of Independent Age, Janet Morrison, said: ‘Confidence that the social care system can deal with the UK’s ageing population has virtually evaporated among Parliamentarians.
‘The crisis in social care was front and centre in the election earlier this year and it is clear from this poll that there is an overwhelming desire from politicians on all sides for the Government to work towards a cross-party consensus on a solution.’
Richard Humphries, senior fellow at The King’s Fund, an independent charity working to improve health and care in England, said the survey challenged ‘the leaderships of both main parties to put aside their differences and work together to fix the crisis in the social care system’.
He said: ‘MPs of both main parties agree that adult social care needs both fundamental reform and more funding, and so it is vital that the forthcoming government consultation addresses this.
‘Parliament has made clear that the make do and mend approach to the social care system is no longer good enough.’
Chairman of the Local Government Association’s community wellbeing board, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, added: ‘It is encouraging to see so many MPs across all political parties recognising the need for action to find a sustainable solution to the adult social care funding crisis.’