Boris Johnson says social care will get a 10 year plan

Prime minister Boris Johnson has said the social care sector will get a 10-year plan, like the NHS has, to close the “gulf” between the NHS and social care.

Boris Johnson confirmed he would deliver a 10 year plan when he spoke to the Commons liaison committee.

Mr Johnson said: “Do we need a plan to do it, a long-term plan, a 10-year plan? The answer is yes."

The Prime Minister was responding to questions from former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, who is the chair of the Health and Social Care Committee and has repeatedly called for a 10 year plan for social care.

Jeremy Hunt said: “Last week the NHS got £6.6 billion for COVID costs, but there was no mention of social care in the budget at all.

"I just wondered if you could understand the frustration of 1.6 million people in the sector who feel they are always treated as the poor relation.

"Will you be the first prime minister to say that social care will always be equally important as the NHS?" Mr Johnson said: “One of the problems that we have is the gulf between the NHS and social care into which so many people fall and that’s the problem we need to to fix.

“And if you’re going to ask me do we need a plan to do it, a long term plan, a 10 year plan then the answer is yes and the government will be bringing forward our proposals on social care and social care reform later this year.”

When questioned further, Boris Johnson went on to say it was “highly likely” social care would get a mention in the Queen’s Speech on 11 May.