Tony Stein, chief executive of Healthcare Management Solutions, has said new funding models are needed to address the crisis in social care.

In a letter to care minister Helen Whately, Stein said centralised funding of social care was viable, adding the “division of funding between the NHS and social care leads to sub-optimal decisions, driven by affordability rather than need”.

Stein said: “Inadequate care leads to increased social isolation, leading to depression, dementia, heart disease, malnutrition, and medication non-compliance. There is a higher risk of falls, necessitating expensive emergency and hospital care, followed by costlier long[1]term care for those immobilised.

“Despite the growing need due to an ageing population, successive governments have struggled to adequately fund social care. The sector remains underfunded, as starkly highlighted during the Covid pandemic when social care was the poor relation to the NHS, as has always been, and remains, the case.

“The current state of social care funding necessitates urgent attention and reform. I believe that through constructive dialogue, we can address these challenges and improve the care system for our ageing population.”

Stein invited the care minister to discuss his proposals in more detail at one of his care homes.