Andy Burnham has said he is prepared to spend “whatever political capital I have” on reshaping England’s social care system, arguing that the NHS cannot recover its waiting times unless social care is fixed first. Speaking in his first full interview since entering No 10, he said the issue has been neglected for too long and that major changes could be made before the next election, even if a fully new system would take longer to build.
Burnham, who has previously pointed to his father’s Alzheimer’s disease and need for care, said he would move as quickly as possible on reform. While he declined to set out a timetable, he said he would not leave office without overseeing substantial change. He warned that without action, the health service could come under even greater pressure from patients who should not have to enter the NHS system in the first place. He also said the current setup costs the NHS billions of pounds.
Alongside social care, Burnham said the country needs to take a harder look at welfare spending and the wider benefits system. He said he did not want to blame people who claim benefits, adding that many young people have been badly let down by a lack of support. He said changes should focus on altering the kind of support offered and, in some cases, making benefits conditional on people taking up opportunities, while continuing to provide help such as mental health support where needed. Burnham also said the government should continue efforts to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training.
The debate comes as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch wrote to Burnham offering to work with the government on social care, though only under conditions the government would not be able to accept, according to the report.
Source: theguardian.com
