Boris Johnson under fire from care leaders and MPs demanding social care reform in Queen's Speech

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been sent a letter by care leaders, MPs and Peers, calling on him to include social care reform in the Queen’s Speech this May because ‘the sector is on its knees’.

‘1948 moment’ for adult social care

In the letter, the Prime Minster is told: ’The situation is desperate. Social care needs its 1948 moment to establish a long-term and sustainable future, that will be to the benefit of all citizens and the economy’.

The letter is signed by over 26 co-signatories including the chief executives of The Care Workers' Charity and Independent Age, Dr Jane Townson the chief executive of the UKHCA, Lord Victor Adebowale the Chair of the NHS Confederation, Labour MP Barbara Keeley and Ed Davey the leader of the Liberal Democrats.

The State Opening of Parliament will take place on Tuesday 11 May. The Queen’s Speech will set out the government’s agenda for the next session.

The letter delivered to the PM this morning states: ‘Dear Prime Minister, Social care has been on the front-line of the COVID-19 pandemic and we have seen over 30,000 deaths of care homes residents and nearly 900 staff. ‘The adult social care workforce has demonstrated tremendous commitment and resilience during this time; however, the sector is on its knees, and is in desperate need of reform in order that we can craft a long-term future.'

'We support calls for an extra £7 billion' a year

The letter warns: ‘Successive governments have promised social care reform but have not delivered.' It goes on to state: ‘Social care is little understood but much needed and is usually accessed at a time of crisis without the information and support to make informed choices.

‘We support the recent calls by the Health and Social Care Select Committee for an extra £7 billion per annum and for a workforce strategy. These measures will help us to secure a long-term future for care, create new careers and build back stronger after the pandemic. Investing in our social care system both in terms of money and personnel is now essential.

‘The current system leaves many families struggling to survive when one of the family members needs social care. Each year thousands of people face losing their home and all their family assets.'

The letter refers to the charity Age UK's statistic that 1.6 million people aged 65+ do not get the care and support they need and says this could rise to 2.1 million people by 2030.

It also highlights an ‘unmet demand for people with learning disabilities’ and states that for ‘many years the Government has failed to heed the Low Pay Commission’s call for a national living wage’ and thousands of people are ‘facing the prospect of delivering essential services at below the minimum wage’.

The letter ends with the words: ‘Many citizens have been so heartened to hear your commitment to reform, we hope to see it in the Queen’s Speech.’

Other co-signatories of the letter include Baroness Campbell of Surbiton, Baroness Greengross the president of the International Longevity Centre, Helen Wildbore director of Relatives and Residents Association, Caroline Abrahams charity director at Age UK and Martin Green the chief executive of Care England which represents care providers.

'Last chance for the Prime Minister'

Caroline Abrahams, Age UK's charity director, said: “Ministers must commit to firm action in the forthcoming Queen's Speech because this really is the last chance for the Prime Minister to follow through on his pledge to “fix the crisis in social care, once and for all,” and have something to show for it by the next General Election.

“It is widely suggested that the Government’s preferred reform is a cap to protect people from sky high care bills. This could make a valuable difference to many older people and families who are terrified they will run out of money to pay for essential care."

Age UK's charity director says even if a cap is set at a generous level, a cap on its own "will not be enough to fulfil the Prime Minister's promise" and the Government "must also commit to improving the wages and prospects of care staff and to increasing care funding overall".

’Nothing will bring those people back’

Caroline Abrahams added: “In their weakened state our care services were in no position to withstand the threat posed by COVID and many thousands of older people died before their time as a result.

"Nothing will bring those people back but the least we can do now is to restore services to a level of decency and give the staff on whom social care depends a proper career structure and the terms and conditions they deserve.“

Care minister Helen Whately, speaking as a guest on 'Let's Talk About Care' podcast at the end of March said she would not confirm social care reforms would be published by the summer.

Helen Whately said: "We have committed to bringing forward a plan for social care reform this year but I'm not going to be drawn any further on the timing."

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