Boris Johnson promises social care reform this year as care homes call for action

Prime minister Boris Johnson has told MPs he will deliver social care reform “later this year” as care homes demand assistance as they tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Appearing before the House of Commons Liaison Committee on 13 January, Boris Johnson said: “The pandemic has highlighted the difficulties that the social care sector is in - it clearly needs reform and it needs improvement.

'We will be bringing forward plans later this year'

“But there is also the issue of people being forced to sell their homes to pay for their care and that’s something that we want to address and we will be bringing forward plans later this year.”

On his first day as Prime Minister, Mr Johnson stood on the steps of 10 Downing Street to tell the country: “We will fix the crisis in social care once and for all”. At the time he promised it was “time to change the record.”

He was reminded of this promise by Jeremy Hunt, the former health secretary and current chair of the Health and Social Committee. Mr Hunt asked Mr Johnson whether he would publish a 10-year plan for social care as the NHS already has one. Mr Johnson said the social care sector should have a “long-term plan”.

Former prime ministers over the last 20 years including Tony Blair in 1997, Gordon Brown in 2008, David Cameron in 2012 and Theresa May in 2017 have pledged to reform social care.

There have been at least 13 documents on social care reform in 17 years, including four independent reviews/commissions, four consultations and five white and green papers, but as yet no reform for the sector.

Martin Green, the chief executive of Care England, which represents England’s independent care homes, said: “We are desperate for the Government to act upon its manifesto commitment to adult social care before it is too late.

“It is abundantly clear that now is the time for long term reform, no more sticking plasters”.

Care England has submitted a response to Budget 2021 by calling for £7 billion for the adult social care sector This is the figure the Commons Health and Social Care Committee has recommended for the sector per year.

Martin Green also highlighted the changing cost and operation reality that has been imposed on the care sector as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Treasury urged to intervene in insurance struggle

Care England wants the Treasury to 'intervene' to help the care sector with insurance costs during the pandemic. Many care homes have refused to accept coronavirus patients due to rising insurance costs and difficulty obtaining public indemnity insurance.

The association has also highlighted that recently councils have posted fee rises of only 0.9 per cent in some areas while others have indicated no fee increases at all for care homes with nursing.

Mr Green said: “Such pitiful fee increases which do not fully account for increases in the National Living Wage let alone care providers’ costs which have risen by as much as 10 per cent during the pandemic, leaves the sector and those who rely on it in a very precarious situation.”

Care England's chief executive also emphasised the sector’s potential role as an employer in the UK’s job market at a time when the economy is being hit by the pandemic.

The care leader said: "COVID-19 has created a new reality for both the country and the adult social care sector.

"It is therefore right and proper that the Chancellor’s forthcoming Budget recognises the support which the adult social care sector needs in both the short, medium and longer term.

“The Government should see those funds which it allocates to the sector as an investment in critical national infrastructure. We estimate that the sector's role in the UK economy is set to grow both as a consequence of an ageing population and in the short term, owing to rising unemployment in other parts of the economy."