HEALTH

MPs back social care system overhaul

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.

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.'

HEALTH

Government letting down families on social care, says Dilnot

By Lee Peart | 14 July 2025

Governments of all colours have underfunded means-tested social care provision by local government for 20 years, says economist Andrew Dilnot. Lee Peart repo...

HEALTH

Devolution goes mainstream? Definitely Maybe

By Mike Emmerich | 11 July 2025

As the government gave devolution a supersonic boost with the launch of the bill, Mike Emmerich looks at Manchester – and the need to put progress above poli...

HEALTH

Call for Government to fix 'broken' children's social care

By Ann McGauran | 10 July 2025

Urgent action is needed to fix a ‘broken’ children’s social care system and give all young people the future they deserve, the chair of the Commons Education...

HEALTH

Under pressure: The strain of snap elections

By Peter Stanyon | 09 July 2025

Peter Stanyon says election teams must have the legislation, systems and funding in place if they are to keep on delivering the safe, secure and accurate Gen...

Popular articles by William Eichler