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Andy Burnham has warned the BBC that without reform to social care, the NHS faces the risk of collapse. While he emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue, Burnham did not commit to a specific timeline for implementing changes. In his first major interview since becoming prime minister, he made clear his intention to introduce “substantial change” to the social care system before the end of his tenure.
Burnham also touched on welfare policies, suggesting tighter restrictions on benefit claims as part of efforts to reduce the welfare bill. Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch has written to the prime minister urging him to avoid tax increases or higher borrowing as means to finance social care reform. She emphasized that any solution must be fair to individuals who have saved money throughout their lives.
During the interview, the prime minister explained that if social care is not reformed, the NHS will struggle under the pressure of caring for people who should not have to rely on hospital services. However, when asked whether he would introduce a new social care system before the next election, Burnham said he “couldn’t put a timeline on it right here, right now” but pledged to invest his political capital in fixing what he sees as a broken system. Notably, Burnham first advocated for a universal social care system in 2009 when he was health secretary.
Burnham is expected to deliver a speech on adult social care soon, but the BBC reports that he may stop short of unveiling concrete plans at that time. Instead, he is likely to announce an acceleration in the work of the Casey Commission, an independent review currently exploring social care reforms. Although Baroness Louise Casey’s final recommendations are expected in 2028, Burnham aims to bring that schedule forward. Adult social care itself provides essential support for people’s independence, including help with personal care and household tasks, but unlike the NHS, it is not free at the point of use. In England and Northern Ireland, those with savings over £23,250 do not qualify for council funding, while Scotland and Wales have different eligibility criteria. The issue has remained challenging for governments, with previous attempts—such as Labour’s scrapped £86,000 cap on lifetime social care costs—drawing criticism
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