Govt ‘has no ideas’ on social care reform, say campaigners

Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, wrote to MPs and peers on Friday asking for their views on reducing the cost passed to elderly people to pay for their care.

This is the first step, he said, towards a cross-party consensus on social care reform, with more in-depth talks scheduled for May.

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said the actions of the Health Secretary would not “fill anyone who cares about the future of social care with much confidence”.

“It is always good for ministers to seek alternative views, but it is very disappointing that they appear not to be offering any of their own at this stage. A cross-party process would surely have a greater chance of success if ministers were setting out some kind of basis for discussion, rather than leaving it to everyone to pitch in from their own starting point.”