Prime Minister Andy Burnham has vowed to set out a clear plan for a National Care Service that will be put to the public at the next General Election.

The plans were revealed by Burnham during an interview with BBC's Laura Kuenssberg yesterday.

Burnham said: ‘I am not going to say what others have said and say "I am looking in another direction, this is all too difficult".

‘Broken social care will in the end break the National Health Service if we leave like it is.'

The Prime Minister is expected to reveal more of his plans in his speech to the Labour Conference on Tuesday.

UNISON general secretary Andrea Egan said: ‘If the Prime Minister wants to put a National Care Service on the ballot at the next election, he needs to start laying the foundation stones now.

‘That means funding the Fair Pay Agreement properly, not with the woefully inadequate £500m which has been earmarked, and ensuring our services are run for public benefit, not private gain.

‘Ministers must do the right thing and reverse plans to make migrant workers wait 15 years to qualify to settle in the UK, instead of the current five. It's also time for a sector-wide visa sponsorship scheme in the social care sector to deal with the exploitation of staff.'

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said: ‘If we want a care sector worthy of the name, the foundation must be the workers; dedicated, skilled professionals - usually paid a pittance - who keep the system from crumbling through their dedication.

‘Fair Pay Agreements are a massive first step, but we need more - proper sick pay, visa reform and career progression - if we want these workers to keep looking after our loved ones in their hour of need.'

Lee Peart is editor of Hemming Group’s Healthcare Management magazine.