According to a new poll commissioned by charity Independent Age, only one in 10 MPs in England (10 per cent) believe that the current social care system is suitable for the UK’s ageing population, and 86 per cent believe a cross-party consensus is needed for a lasting settlement on health and social care.
Ahead of the return of MPs to Parliament next week, the new poll by ComRes finds there are strong majorities across both major parties who believe funding for social care is inadequate, with only one in five Conservative MPs in England agreeing there is sufficient funding for social care services in either their constituency (21 per cent) or in the UK (21 per cent). Less than one in 10 Labour MPs in England say they agree that there is sufficient funding for social care services in either their constituency (eight per cent) or in the UK (seven per cent).
MPs in England also expressed significant concerns about the current state of social care in their constituencies only months after it featured as a leading concern for voters in the snap General Election. Only 13 per cent of Labour MPs in England and 35 per cent of Conservative MPs in England believe that social care services in their constituencies are fit for purpose. There was even less confidence in social care services across the UK, with only eight per cent of Labour MPs in England and 22 per cent of Conservative MPs in England believing they are fit for purpose.
Janet Morrison, chief executive of Independent Age, says: “Confidence that the social care system can deal with the UK’s ageing population has virtually evaporated among Parliamentarians. The crisis in social care was front and centre in the election earlier this year, and it is clear from this poll that there is an overwhelming desire from politicians on all sides for the Government to work towards a cross-party consensus on a solution.
"The problems in social care are about more than simply finding new bits of money to pump into a system that isn’t fit for purpose. To meet current and future demand, we need to take a radically different approach, recognising the status quo has failed. The Government has promised a consultation on social care, but to work this must set out a long-term vision for health and care that has support from across the political divide. It must also lead to a lasting settlement that better integrates health and social care services and is sustainable over the years to come.”
The survey also highlighted overwhelming support for a cross-party solution on health and social care. Conservative (84 per cent) and Labour (88 per cent) MPs almost equally agree that a cross-party consensus is required.
This lack of confidence in the current system and desire for a cross-party approach for a solution highlights the scale of the problem that the Government has promised to address through a green paper on social care, although worryingly the timetable for the publication of this and its scope remains unclear. In January, Independent Age led a group of 75 organisations and expert voices to call on the Prime Minister to take a cross-party approach to review and recommend action on future health and social care funding.
Norman Lamb MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for health, and Chair of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, has been a vocal proponent of a cross-party approach to finding a long-term solution on social care, and met with the Prime Minister to discuss the issue earlier in the year. The Liberal Democrat manifesto at the 2017 General Election set out a plan to establish a cross-party health and social care convention which would carry out a comprehensive review of the longer-term sustainability of health and social care services.
Responding to the report, Margaret Willcox, president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), says: “This telling report reflects long standing concerns about developing a national debate to secure a long-term, sustainable funding solution for adult social care. This is a national priority. It is also a priority for working age disabled adults.
“Despite most adult social care services in England providing people with safe, high quality and compassionate care – in the context of rising levels and complexity of need and inadequate funding – adult social care remains at a tipping point. This affects older and disabled people and their families, care workers, care markets and the NHS.
“Older and disabled people and their families need and deserve high quality, reliable and personal care for their increasingly complex needs. For this to happen, and with MPs returning to Parliament next week, government needs to address adult social care as a priority so it can be future-proofed for people who will continue to need care and support in increasing numbers.”
