Nuffield Trust response to the Prime Minister's announcements on social care at Labour Party Conference

Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech and announcements on social care at Labour Party Conference, Nuffield Trust Deputy Director of Policy Natasha Curry said:

“To have a Prime Minister bringing this much passion and commitment to reforming social care is hopeful after decades of neglect. If Burnham’s vision sets us on a path for a national care service that is free at the point of use, it could see us going from one of the most threadbare systems in the developed world to one of the most generous. The amount of funding needed will depend heavily on exactly what is in and what is out of any public offer. Even Denmark, which has a very generous system, charges people for accommodation costs. [1]

“But Burnham needs to be crystal clear about who stands to gain from the changes he’s proposing. Today’s speech leaves us with important questions unanswered over exactly how the system he envisages would compare to what we have now, who can expect to receive ‘free’ care, and what types of support are included. With the focus on pensioners, working age adults who rely on care services will be wondering whether they will benefit. 

“Burnham needs to tread carefully. Ploughing ahead with major changes too early might risk undermining Baroness Casey’s Commission and the ‘public conversation’ about social care. Burnham recognises the need to build consensus and settle what we as a society want social care to do before deciding the fairest way to fund it. Yet not taking any action at all to begin reforms before the next election risks leaving the sector to languish further.”