A shocking new poll has revealed only one in 10 MPs in England believe that the current social care system is suitable for the UK’s ageing population.
Commissioned by older people’s charity Independent Age, the poll of 101 English MPs of all parties also found 86% believe a cross-party consensus is needed for a lasting settlement on health and social care.
The ComRes poll shows a majority on both sides of the House believes funding for social care is inadequate.
Only one in five Conservative MPs in England agreed there is sufficient funding for social care services in either their constituency (21%) or in the UK (21%). Less than one in 10 Labour MPs in England say they agreed there is sufficient funding for social care services in either their constituency (8%) or in the UK (7%).
Only 13% of Labour MPs in England and 35% of Conservative MPs in England believed social care services in their constituencies were ‘fit for purpose’, the poll found.
There was even less confidence in social care services across the UK, with only 8% of Labour MPs in England and 22% of Conservative MPs in England believing they were ‘fit for purpose’.
‘Confidence that the social care system can deal with the UK’s ageing population has virtually evaporated among Parliamentarians,’ said Janet Morrison, chief executive of Independent Age.
‘The crisis in social care was front and centre in the election earlier this year, and it is clear from this poll that there is an overwhelming desire from politicians on all sides for the Government to work towards a cross-party consensus on a solution.’
Ms Morrison pointed out the Government had promised a consultation on social care and the publication of a green paper. However, she raised concerns over the timetable for its publication and the scope of the consultation.
Responding to the findings, Margaret Willcox, president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), said: ‘Despite most adult social care services in England providing people with safe, high quality and compassionate care – in the context of rising levels and complexity of need and inadequate funding – adult social care remains at a tipping point.
‘This affects older and disabled people and their families, care workers, care markets and the NHS.
‘Older and disabled people and their families need and deserve high quality, reliable and personal care for their increasingly complex needs.
‘For this to happen, and with MPs returning to Parliament next week, government needs to address adult social care as a priority so it can be future-proofed for people who will continue to need care and support in increasing numbers.’
Richard Humphries, senior fellow at The King’s Fund, an independent charity working to improve health and care in England, said the survey challenged ‘the leaderships of both main parties to put aside their differences and work together to fix the crisis in the social care system.’
‘MPs of both main parties agree that adult social care needs both fundamental reform and more funding, and so it is vital that the forthcoming government consultation addresses this,’ he said.
‘Despite numerous reviews, commissions, Green and White Papers on this, successive governments have ducked the challenge with the result being that many vulnerable people are now forced to rely on friends and family or are unable to access care at all.
‘Parliament has made clear that the ‘make do and mend’ approach to the social care system is no longer good enough.’
The Liberal Democrat spokesperson for health, Norman Lamb MP, also warned the Government’s promised green paper ‘falls short of the fundamental review of the entire health and care system’ needed.
‘Without lasting reform, the most vulnerable frail and elderly people are at real risk of falling through the gaps and not getting the support they expect and deserve,’ he added.
County council representatives welcomed Independent Age’s survey and highlighted the disparities in social care funding between urban and rural areas.
‘County authorities face particular challenges in their rural areas as they contain the largest and fastest growing elderly populations, yet those councils receive £2bn less in adult social care funding compared to other parts of the country,’ said Cllr Colin Noble, health and social care spokesman for the County Councils Network (CCN) and leader of Suffolk County Council.
‘Ministers must be bold in reform; and this needs to be coupled with a fairer funding deal for rural councils who are currently underfunded considering demand for their care services,’ he added.
