Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting has thrown his support behind Andy Burnham to address the social care crisis in the UK, emphasizing that the issue has not received sufficient attention under Keir Starmer’s leadership.
Streeting, who resigned from the Cabinet in May due to his disagreement with the Prime Minister’s leadership style, expressed confidence that Burnham, the new leader, will make social care a top priority. Speaking on Sky News, Streeting voiced his frustration over the lack of action on critical social care matters since Labour came into power.
It is anticipated that Burnham, whose father suffers from Alzheimer’s and resides in a care facility, will outline his stance on social care in the coming week. Streeting highlighted key achievements during his tenure as Social Care Secretary, such as expanding Carer’s Allowance and enhancing disabled facilities grants. However, he stressed the urgency of placing social care higher on the government’s agenda.
Addressing the need to define the role of social care and its funding, Streeting criticized past administrations for neglecting these crucial issues. He praised Burnham’s commitment to tackling the social care crisis and anticipated that Burnham would articulate his plans to address the matter effectively.
In an upcoming speech, Burnham is expected to pledge to confront and resolve the longstanding social care challenges that have been unfulfilled by previous governments. Unlike NHS services, social care incurs costs, leading some individuals to sell their properties to cover expenses. Burnham has vowed to advocate for necessary reforms to alleviate this financial burden.
Recent data revealed a significant increase in the number of individuals stranded in hospitals due to the lack of accessible social care, indicating a pressing need for reform. The government is poised to address these long-standing issues under Burnham’s leadership, aiming to restore faith in governance and improve citizens’ lives.
Baroness Louise Casey is leading a review of adult social care, with initial recommendations expected later this year and further reports in 2028. Starmer emphasized the importance of sparking a national dialogue on the provision and financing of social care through the commission’s work.