It is the thorny problem that has bedevilled multiple governments: how to fix Britain’s adult social care provision. Now Parliament has returned from its summer recess, Andy Burnham is all set to have a go.
The Prime Minister has pledged to use “whatever political capital I have” to fix provision, admitting that without change, the NHS could simply collapse. And he appears to be genuinely personally invested, referencing his father’s struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
The Government has already begun the process of reform. Baroness Louise Casey’s review into the sector has been accelerated, the Big Conversation on Care is underway, newly appointed ministers have begun work on workforce reform and cross-party discussions are intended to build political agreement that can survive beyond a single Parliament. The question now is how to build on this work and turn the principles of reform into practical changes that improve people’s experience of care.
The NHS and social care cannot be considered in isolation. Delays in social care can contribute to hospital admissions and delayed discharge, while pressure on the NHS can place greater demands on social care. Reform is therefore about improving people’s experience of care while reducing avoidable pressure on the NHS and making better use of resources across the wider system.
Read more about how Evondos fits into this in the whole article