Wes Streeting says Labour wants to create 'cross-party consensus' on social care reforms
The Health Secretary has said the government is looking at how it can “create a degree of national consensus” on reforms to social care, amidst accusations Labour is “kicking the can down the road”.
Wes Streeting told the BBC that “a good and noble intention to try and build a genuine national consensus around a National Care Service, so you don’t get public policy roaming around like a shopping trolley from one government to the next”.
He said that social care needs a “serious 10-year plan” and explained that he is “thinking very carefully at the moment about how best to” to build a cross-party consensus.
Labour has said it will reveal its plans for adult social care in the next 12 months.
So far, there has been scant detail of how its manifesto pledge of a National Care Service will work in practice.
The government announced fair pay agreements for social care workers as part of its Employment Rights Bill, although it also indefinitely delayed the cap on costs.
The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has announced almost £2 billion in funding for the NHS ahead of today’s Budget to try and reduce the waiting list, with no mention of social care.
Mr Streeting said that there is “no answer to the NHS that doesn’t involve social care and dealing with the late discharges”.
Mike Padgham, who runs Saint Cecilia’s Care Group in Scarborough, told the Yorkshire Post that “what’s missing is actually doing something”.
"All we seem to do is talk and go round and round in circles,” Mr Padgham, who is also the chair of North Yorkshire’s Independent Care Group, said.
"Meanwhile it’s getting worse, more people are needing care, the system is on its knees.
"They suggested a Royal Commission, they suggested cross-party talks, but we’ve already got an agreement of what needs to be done.”
Mr Padgham believes the government is failing to see the benefits of social care.
"They need to wake up to the fact that this will help them and it will help the country,” he said.
“Social care is not a drain, it can have a positive contribution to growth.”