The UK government has announced initial steps towards a National Care Service, aiming to alleviate pressure on the National Health Service (NHS) and address the long-standing issues within adult social care. However, care experts express concerns about the timeline, as significant reforms may take up to three years to materialize, potentially leaving vulnerable individuals without immediate relief.
A new support package includes increased funding for home improvements to enable elderly and disabled individuals to remain independent, reducing hospital admissions. Simultaneously, an independent commission, led by Baroness Louise Casey, will advise on both medium and long-term reforms, with the first phase expected to report next year. This initial phase will focus on recommending medium-term solutions, while a subsequent report, due by 2028, will address long-term strategies.
Despite the positive intentions, sector leaders express apprehension regarding the implementation timeline. Age UK's director, Caroline Abrahams, stressed that even with successful implementation, tangible benefits for older adults could be delayed until the early 2030s, decades after other developed countries modernized their systems. This delay raises concern for current older generations who desperately need a more effective system.
The Homecare Association acknowledges the potential to end the “doom loop” of the sector, but also emphasizes the urgency of the situation, noting the sector is on its last legs. Chief Executive Jane Townson argues that Baroness Casey's commission is the final chance to achieve transformation. She also expressed concern about a proposal to train care workers to perform health checks due to lack of funding for said training, further highlighting the precarious state of the sector.
While the proposed reforms are seen as "unequivocally good news," the issue of sustainable funding has been pushed to the second phase of the commission. This delay, particularly given the uncertain future of the economy and politics, raises concern from Age UK regarding the overall reform's effectiveness.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has extended an invitation to opposition parties to contribute to the discussions, which aims for cross-party support for a lasting National Care Service. Care England's chief executive, Martin Green, also cautioned that the plans risk being yet another ineffective report without immediate interventions. He emphasized that waiting until 2028 to see change is not feasible as the sector requires urgent attention.
Carers UK chief executive, Helen Walker, welcomes the move to reform and called for decisive action on the commission’s recommendations. She also stresses the need for the government to ensure sufficient funding to prevent additional cuts to social care in the forthcoming spending review and begin conversations on a sustainable funding plan soon as possible. The 2025 spending review is scheduled for publication in the late spring.
