Andy Burnham fast-tracks National Care Service amid social care crisis

London,UPDATED: Jul 29, 2026 17:54 IST

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has set out plans to speed up the creation of a new Care Service, modelled on the state-funded Health Service. During a visit to a social care centre in London, Burnham said the government wanted to move faster on reforming a system he said was failing many older and disabled people.

The issue is also a personal one for Burnham, whose elderly father is battling Alzheimer's disease. The new Labour leader, who took charge at 10 Downing Street last week, has also called a cross-party summit with Opposition leaders, saying his approach is focused on “problem solving rather than political point scoring”.

“I just don't accept that this problem is too big to solve. What we need is a new way of doing politics where we come together, face the challenge head-on and build an integrated system that gives people security and dignity,” Burnham said.

Speaking about his family's experience, he said: “When someone in your family is receiving care... you notice things you maybe didn't notice before because you watch it so closely and so carefully.

“I've just been really overwhelmed by their care, the skill in what they do, the professionalism. It really is incredible and it's humbling to watch them caring for someone else's dad, someone else's mum. To me, they should be the best-paid people in society, not the worst.”

Burnham said he would bring forward the date for a commission reviewing social care for the country's ageing population to report back with a plan on how to deliver a Care Service by next year. UK Health and Care Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Too many older and disabled people are being let down by a broken system, while millions of unpaid carers shoulder an enormous burden every day. When social care fails, it affects people's independence, families' lives and communities across the country.”

The government wants to focus immediately on strengthening the social care workforce, linking it more closely with NHS workers, and creating better routes for career progression, pay, training and job security. Led by Baroness Louise Casey, a 'Big Conversation on Care' consultation will invite people across the UK to share their views through a new online platform, including on the values and principles they expect from the system and difficult questions around fairness and funding.

Alongside that exercise, Cooper will chair a new ministerial group to speed up the government's response on social care, including workforce issues, system reform and delivery of the commission's first recommendations. This will include work towards appointing a “Dementia Tsar” later this summer. On funding, Burnham told reporters: “I think more is possible from within existing resources and the things that I've talked about today, particularly around the workforce, will be fully funded.” He said the Care Service would be built around seamless movement between hospitals, home care and community services, sustainable funding, prevention-led support to help an ageing population live independently for longer, and better integration of local social, primary and community care.

Burnham's plan brings together faster reform, workforce changes, public consultation and cross-party talks as his government pushes to create a Care Service for older and disabled people.

With PTI Inputs

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