A National Care Service could be launched in England in 2028, a new report suggests.

The Support Guaranteed report, which was commissioned by UNISON from the Fabian Society, says the National Care Service could be launched on 5 July 2028 to mark the 80^th anniversary of the NHS.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Social care has been neglected for too long. The system is broken and the staff who work in it are either on their knees or leaving in droves.  

“Promises of reform have come to nothing and people needing care are being let down on a grand scale. Arranging care for a loved one is a minefield for families trying to navigate the system for the first time.  

“To make matters worse the sector is thousands of staff short. Raising pay is key to stopping the exodus of staff quitting for higher wages and less stressful, emotionally draining jobs elsewhere.  

“People who rely on care deserve much better. A National Care Service would boost wages, put quality above profit-making and ensure everyone receives the support they need.”

Ten principles underpin the service, including care that is high-quality, affordable, accessible and connected to the NHS and other local support. 

Support would be provided locally and delivered under one name across England with all employees guaranteed fair rates of pay.

The report states a new workforce settlement should be the first priority in creating a National Care Service. This would mean national minimums for wages, sick pay, pensions and annual holiday across the country, with workers guaranteed decent, comprehensive training. 

The report does not back the creation of a single National Health and Care Service, although services may wish to merge locally, and this is something that may well come about over time.  

Reaction

Shadow health and social care secretary Wes Streeting MP said: “This report is an important contribution to the debate on our social care system. 

“Labour is committed to ensuring better terms and conditions, proper training, and fair pay for care workers, with national standards guaranteeing good quality care, as the first steps to building a national care service.”   

Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, told Caring Times: “Whilst we support many of the ideas outlined in this national approach to social care it is important that we do not have a nationalised system, what we need is diversity of provision, so that there is both capacity and choice for citizens. People need to know what to expect from social care, how to access it, and we also must ensure, that it is a system that prevents people going into crisis and enables them to lead good lives ” 

Beverley Tarka, president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said: “There’s a lot of sense in the report, and a lot to work through. But like the Time to Act Roadmap that we published in April, what’s clear from the Fabian report is that we cannot let social care go on as it is. We need a long-term, sustainable transformation. If we want politicians to act on this, they need to hear from people in their communities that this is a priority for them. If we have the will, together we can transform social care, so we all benefit from better care and support in the future.”

Professor Vic Rayner, chief executive of the National Care Forum, said: “I welcome this in-depth report exploring what the journey towards a National Care Service under Labour could look like. It’s encouraging to see a focus on choice and control for people, better pay, terms and conditions for the workforce and a new deal for care providers. I particularly welcome the Fabian Society’s focus on the critical role of not-for-profit care and the recommendation to expand this type of provision. Accompanying this is the critical recognition that care should be for people, not for profit.

“I now want to hear more detail from Labour in terms of what they plan to adopt as part of their manifesto, and how they will ensure it is fully funded.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We are fully committed to our ten-year vision to reform adult social care, and recently published our Next Steps to put People at the Heart of Care plan – setting out how we are spending £700 million on adult social care reform over the next two years.

“As part of this we have already allocated £250 million for the social care workforce to develop their skills and careers and fund new training schemes.

“We have also made up to £7.5 billion available in additional funding to support adult social care and discharge over the next two years – putting the system on a stronger financial footing and helping local authorities address waiting lists, low fee rates, and workforce pressures.”