Healthwatch response to Prime Minister's speech on social care

In his speech today, the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, announced that he had asked Baroness Louise Casey to focus on how the government could establish a National Care Service and to bring forward her review of adult social care in England by a year, with publication now expected in 2027.

He also announced the start of cross-party talks on the issue.

Social care has long been close to our hearts. We have worked closely with social care organisations and policymakers to share our research and advocate for the fundamental reform that social care urgently needs.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech and announcements on adult social care, Chris McCann, our Acting Chief Executive said: 

“We welcome the Prime Minister’s decision to expedite the Casey Commission on social care and relaunch cross-party talks. People tell Healthwatch every day how difficult it is to access care under the current system, and it is vital that long-term reform is brought forward as soon as possible.

“Our research in 2024 found that up to 1.5 million working-age disabled people may be entitled to social care but have never received it. The Big Conversation on care, launched today by Baroness Louise Casey, is a welcome step towards ensuring that the experiences of people who draw on care, as well as those who need support but are not receiving it, are at the heart of designing a new social care system.”