NHS shake-up must include social care reform – The Yorkshire Post says

This remains, after all, the National Health Service’s greatest challenge since its inception in 1948.

What Matt Hancock has still to do, despite the Health and Social Care Secretary being motivated by the best of intentions, is convince the medical profession, and country at large, that now is the right time for a shake-up.

Covid is still to be suppressed. NHS staff and carers are exhausted. Meanwhile the number of people waiting more than 52 weeks to start hospital treatment in England is at its highest level since 2008.

If Mr Hancock can demonstrate that his reforms will bring about a closer correlation between health and social care without undue disruption and distraction, then the new White Paper deserves a respectful hearing.

But, if the changes risk a protracted political battle, then it would be prudent for the Minister to bide his time – and focus on Covid and need to reduce NHS waiting times – until a broader consensus can be reached.

For, while the White Paper does promise better integration between the NHS and social care, a regular refrain from the Government over the past decade, it neglects longer-term questions of funding.

And this is crucial. At present the Government is relying on increases in council tax precepts to plug part of the social care funding shortfall – a policy which penalises deprived areas – and is reluctant to talk about National Insurance surcharge or other ways of generating money to pay for care.

Yet, until this very issue is reconciled as part of wider social care reforms, any attempt, however meritorious, to bring together the NHS, local authorities and care providers will be little more than a sticking plaster solution – and another missed opportunity.

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