'People can't wait': Andy Burnham told to act on social care within weeks not years

Mike Padgham, chair of North Yorkshire’s Independent Care Group, who runs Saint Cecilia’s Care Home, in Scarborough, said that “people can’t wait any longer to get a better deal on care”.

Andy Burnham must act within weeks and not years on social care if he is serious about tackling the crisis-hit industry, a Yorkshire care representative said, after the new Prime Minister warned the NHS would collapse without reform.

Mike Padgham, chair of North Yorkshire’s Independent Care Group, who runs Saint Cecilia’s Care Home, in Scarborough, said that “people can’t wait any longer to get a better deal on care”.

Mr Burnham has long spoken about the need for Reform, from when he was health secretary under Gordon Brown up until the time he was Greater Manchester mayor.

In his first major interview since he walked into No 10, Mr Burnham said system change “takes time” but insisted he will expend “whatever political capital I have” on fixing a problem which has long been a thorny one for previous governments.

He told the BBC, when asked about the creation of a new social care system: “I would not want to leave office without having brought in the substantial change, the new system of social care that you describe.

“I can’t put a timeline on it, right here, right now.

“If we don’t do it, the NHS will collapse under the weight of trying to care for people who’ve not really needed to end up in the NHS system.”

The NHS will never get back “to good waiting time standards until we fix social care”, he added.

Mr Burnham is expected to set out his vision for reforming the social care system this week, according to The Times, along with plans for greater fiscal devolution.

He has indicated his desire to bring in a national care service, which is free at the point of use.

The Health Foundation think tank has estimated that this could cost an extra £18.5bn a year by 2035, on top of current costs.

Mr Burnham has previously indicated he would be in favour of a blanket 10 per cent social care levy on all estates, which would replace inheritance tax.

When asked by The Yorkshire Post, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson declined to say whether this would be part of future plans.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has written to Mr Burnham to challenge him to rule out tax rises or increased borrowing to pay for social care reform.

While Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “I am ready to roll up my sleeves and do whatever I can to find a real and lasting consensus on social care.”

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr Burnham said: “No party is in a position where they've got the high ground. We've all failed on this issue, over decades. and the pressure now on the NHS as a result of that failure is huge.

“We've all got to work hard to try and find a solution. There are things that can be done in the shorter term, building towards a longer term solution. and that's what I hope the talks will get into.”

Mr Padgham urged the new Prime Minister to act within weeks: “I know he’s said that he’s going to speed up the Casey Report, but I think it would be good to make a start on something as early as possible - within a few weeks.

“And then build on it, don’t wait for the perfect solution at the end of it. People can’t wait any longer to get a better deal on care.

“It’s encouraging what he’s done and I would hope … it might not necessarily cost any money in the long run, because if you shift those resources from the NHS to social care it’s a better use of the money.”

The Yorkshire Post previously revealed that Mr Burnham was looking to speed up the findings in Baroness Louise Casey’s commission into social care.

This was launched by Wes Streeting, the former health secretary, however it is only set to announce its long-term recommendations by 2028.

The peer has indicated that she is happy to move faster if required.

Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of The King’s Fund health charity, said the Prime Minister must act decisively before a general election.

She said: “I think if he’s really serious then he could, with a large majority, introduce a new system before the end of the Parliament, and he could bring forward some measures.”