Social care reform under the spotlight as Andy Burnham enters Downing Street
Attention is turning to whether Prime Minister Andy Burnham will deliver on his long-standing ambition to reform England’s social care system.
Throughout his political career, Burnham has argued that social care must move away from crisis management and place greater emphasis on prevention, early intervention and helping people maintain their independence.
After becoming Labour leader, Burnham described the current system as “broken” and pledged to “grasp the nettle” of reform. He also said he was prepared to expend significant political capital on addressing a sector that successive governments have struggled to reform.
The renewed political focus comes as pressure continues to grow on families, unpaid carers, care providers and frontline NHS services.
Recent parliamentary evidence indicates that almost 13,000 hospital beds in England were occupied each day over the winter by patients who were medically fit for discharge. Delays in arranging suitable care and support can prevent people from returning home and reduce the number of beds available to other patients.
Research commissioned by Sentai, an intelligent digital assistant designed to support independent living, found that 46 per cent of people believe carers and those receiving care do not receive sufficient support or advice.
The research also found that one in three people supporting an older relative experiences constant worry when they are not there.
Peter Otto, CEO of Sentai, said Burnham’s appointment presented an opportunity to turn his previous commitments into practical action.
He commented: “Andy Burnham has spent much of his political career arguing that Britain needs to stop treating social care as a crisis service and start investing in prevention.
“Now he is Prime Minister, there is a real opportunity to turn that long-held ambition into practical action.
“For too long, social care has only entered the national conversation when the system reaches breaking point. However, our research shows that families are living with the consequences every day.
“Almost half of people tell us that carers and those receiving care do not have enough support or advice, while one in three people supporting an older relative experiences constant worry when they are not there.”
Otto said that although the government would face difficult decisions over public-service funding, social care should not be regarded solely as a cost.
He continued: “Preventative support can help people remain independent for longer, improve quality of life and reduce pressure on hospitals, care services and unpaid carers.
“Technology and artificial intelligence will not solve the social care crisis on their own, but they have an important role to play.
“From supporting daily routines and identifying changes earlier to reducing unnecessary worry for families, technology can complement traditional care and help people remain safely in their own homes for longer.
“If this renewed political focus leads to greater investment in prevention, earlier intervention and practical support that helps people live independently, it will benefit not only older people, but also families, carers, the NHS and the long-term sustainability of the wider care system.”
