Ministers warned that older people could lose vital help and the NHS could be overwhelmed unless there is “national consensus” to fix a “broken” system. A historic independent commission is to be launched to reform child care.
The taskforce, led by the commission's Louise Casey, is tasked with developing plans for a new national care service, a Labor Party election manifesto promise, in the biggest social care transformation in the UK in decades. do.
On Friday, millions of pounds of funding to help older people and disabled people improve their homes and keep them out of hospital was also announced as part of a wider package of support for the sector.
But the timeline proposed for completing the committee's work was criticized by health leaders, who accused ministers of kicking the adult social care crisis into the “long grass”. An interim report is expected to be submitted in 2026, while a final report is expected in 2028.
Wes Streeting wrote in the Guardian: “It will take time, but Casey's work will eventually seize this nettle and put us on the path to building a national care service that meets the urgent needs of our generation and guarantees quality care for all.” It's going to move forward in this country, for whoever needs it, regardless of which government is in power, and for a long time into the future. ”
The Health Secretary added: 'By 2050, there will be 4 million more people aged over 65 in England than there are today. If we do nothing, real social care costs will increase by 2038 compared to 2018. It is expected to be almost double compared to the figures.
“More people will be left without the care they need, health services will be strained and the NHS will be overwhelmed.”
A former civil servant and the go-to troubleshooter for governments from all walks of life and four former prime ministers, Casey has worked with “all political parties” to build a “national consensus” on what the country wants from social care. Involve the people,” added Streeting.
The Health Secretary said Labor “came under a lot of criticism” during last year's general election for “failing to reveal more detail” about its plans for the NHS.
“I have been honest about why: the general election campaign is where social care programs go bust,” he wrote. “In 2009, when Andy Burnham established the cross-party consultation on social care, David Cameron extracted and leaked details of the consultation to attack Labor in the election campaign.
“In 2017, it was Labor who rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s proposals. Then Rishi Sunak cut Boris Johnson’s cap on care spending.”
Mr Street said there had been “a lot of good ideas” over the past 15 years on how to deal with the crisis, but “good politics was lacking”. He said the Labor government was “committed to doing politics differently”.
However, the Health Secretary soon came under fire from some health and care leaders over the taskforce's proposed schedule.
The committee will be conducted in two stages. The first stage report to the government is expected to be published in mid-2026 and will examine the issues facing social care and recommend medium-term reforms. The second stage of the report is due by 2028, but will make longer-term recommendations.
Nadra Ahmed, executive co-chair of the National Care Association, told the Guardian that while he welcomed the commission's launch, he had “grave concerns” that a final report would not be submitted for at least three years. Ta.
He called for the interim and final report deadlines to be brought forward, adding: “There are some areas where we cannot wait that long. There are concerns that waiting that long for the commission's report could push the social care crisis into the long grass.”
Professor Martin Green, Care England's chief executive, said: “This announcement acknowledges a decade-long crisis in social care, but yet another report leaves the social care sector in disarray. There is a risk of being exposed.”
“This committee only confirms what we already know. How many more reports will we have to endure before action is taken?”
Hugh Alderwick, director of policy at the Health Foundation, also warned that the committee “must act quickly” or risk “history repeating itself”.
“The UK's adult social care system is in desperate need of reform after decades of political neglect and underfunding,” he said. “The Government's commitment to social care schemes is therefore welcomed.
“But we have been here before. Over the past 30 years, there has been a long series of reports and reviews making recommendations on social security reform, including from government commissions like the one released today. This has resulted in delays and broken promises.
“This new commission must act quickly and build on previous policy proposals.
“Today’s announcements suggest it could be three years before recommendations are made for long-term reforms, including to social care’s broken funding system. There is a risk that history will repeat itself, with people continuing to suffer.”
King's Fund chief executive Sarah Woolnough welcomed the committee's launch, but called on the government to “bring up the timing”.
“The current timeline for reporting by 2028 is too long for people with social care needs and their families to wait,” she said.
Alongside the commission's launch, ministers on Friday promised further investment in the Disability Facilities Grant, which will allow people to carry out works such as widening doors, improving access, installing ramps and stair lifts and building extensions. announced that it is now possible to apply for funding to do so.
This is on top of the £86m announced in the 2025/26 Budget, with an increase of £86m in 2024/25, bringing the annual total to £711m. Around 7,800 additional elderly and disabled people could benefit, ministers said.
Care workers will be trained to perform additional tasks such as blood pressure checks, reducing the need for patients to go to the doctor or clinic. A digital platform will also be created to share medical information between the NHS and care staff.
