Care England has referred to the government’s decision to abolish NHS England as a ‘seismic change to the health and social care landscape’.
According to the leading voice for adult social care providers in England, the move to bring the management of the NHS back under direct government control represents ‘a significant opportunity to reset the dial on integration, funding, and innovation’ and to ‘develop innovative models of care that truly integrate social care and health services’.
Care England is calling for:
- A clear strategy on how social care will be embedded in the new structures to drive better outcomes for people who rely on both services.
- A commitment to sustainable funding for social care to support hospital discharge, reduce pressure on the NHS, and enable people to live independently for longer.
- A national Continuing Healthcare (CHC) framework that mirrors Funded Nursing Care (FNC) practice, ensuring fair, consistent, and timely decisions across all local areas.
Professor Martin Green OBE, chief executive of Care England, said: “The decision to abolish NHS England is one of the most significant reforms to our health and social care system in a generation. While the full implications of this change are yet to be seen, this is a moment to ensure that social care is fully recognised as an equal partner in the health and care system. The success of the NHS depends on a sustainable and properly funded social care sector, and this announcement must mark the beginning of a new era of integration and collaboration.
“If this change is to succeed, it must not be a rebranding exercise. It must deliver real benefits for people who need care and support. Social care is not an adjunct to the NHS, it is a vital part of the system, and this reform must finally acknowledge that reality.”
