The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Prime Minister to start cross-party talks on his social care reforms now, as a new report warns that local services are facing a ‘deluge’ of requests for care and support.
The warning comes in a survey by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, published today [16 June]. Meanwhile, a separate report by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee concludes that social care is “not properly funded, lacks transparency and urgently needs reform”.
Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care Spokesperson, Munira Wilson MP, said: “The Covid pandemic has reminded us all of the importance of social care. But it has also shown that it is too often an afterthought for this Conservative Government.
“More than 1.5 million people are missing out on the care they need. People are stranded in hospital, unable to leave because follow-up care just does not exist. The NHS, local councils and unpaid carers are all under huge and growing pressure.
“This is happening because the Conservatives ripped up the previous cross-party agreement on social care, stitched together by Liberal Democrat Ministers and based on the same values that underpin our NHS.
“We urgently need a new agreement for a long-term, sustainable future for social care. Boris Johnson must finally publish his proposals and hold the cross-party talks he’s been promising for years.”