Calls Grow to Accelerate Social Care Reform in England

Experts criticize Labour's three-year timeline for addressing social care crisis, urging immediate action and political commitment from Keir Starmer.

Sir Andrew Dilnot, architect of previous social care reform proposals, has called for faster action, deeming Labour's three-year timeline 'unnecessary' and urging decisions by the end of 2025.
Baroness Louise Casey's independent commission on social care is set to deliver its final recommendations in 2028, a timeline experts argue is too lengthy given the urgent crisis facing elderly and disabled individuals.
Dilnot emphasized that meaningful reform requires direct support and leadership from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling political courage a critical factor in achieving change.
Labour has faced criticism for abandoning its earlier commitment to cap lifetime care costs at £86,000, with campaigners likening the repeated delays in reform to 'Groundhog Day.'
Improving social care is seen as essential not only to address immediate needs but also to alleviate pressure on the NHS, though experts caution it may lead to higher long-term costs as people live longer.