Social care funding reform choices for the next government have been presented by a leading healthcare thinktank.

Social Care Reform in England is a new report by independent charity, The Health Foundation.

With a general election expected later this year, the report summarises broad options for funding reform and estimates their potential costs.

The options are:

• Providing basic protection for all against some care costs, with a Scottish-style model of ‘free personal care’ in England, could cost around £6 billion extra in 2026/27, rising to £7 billion by 2035/36;
• Protecting people with the greatest lifetime care needs against catastrophic costs, by introducing a Dilnot-style ‘cap’ set at £86,000, could cost an additional £0.5 billion in 2026/27, rising to around £3.5 billion by 2035/36; and
• Introducing an NHS-style model of universal and comprehensive care could cost around £17 billion in additional funding by 2035/36.

While highlighting the benefits and drawbacks of each option, the charity said a cap on care costs had the advantage of already having been legislated for and being due to be implemented after the next general election.

The report adds a cap on costs could be the least expensive option in the short term and could be used flexibly by any government.

The Health Foundation said a plan for social care must include policies and funding to improve people’s access to good care, boost staff pay and conditions, and better support unpaid carers.

Reaction          

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive, NHS Providers, said: “Inadequate funding for social care has a huge effect on people’s health and wellbeing and on the NHS.

“The NHS works extremely closely with severely overstretched social care services, whether they are providing care for people in their homes or in the community. Every day thousands of people are stuck in hospital beds when they could be recovering at or closer to home, often because there isn’t enough social care capacity.

“Social care needs serious political attention, meaningful reform and long-term, sustainable funding to address huge amounts of unmet and undermet need, quality of care and chronic workforce shortages.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We’ve made strides towards our ambitious 10-year vision to transform social care in England.

“Backed with record funding, we’re investing up to £8.1 billion into adult social care over this financial year and next to ensure that all those who need it get the care they deserve.”