A Broken Social Care System is Failing Us All

On 25th February, care and support workers marched to Parliament Square to demand fair pay and sustainable funding for the sector. This is the first time social care providers have ever felt the need to take to the streets in protest. If that isn’t enough of a wake-up call for the government, I don’t know what is. 

While I was unable to attend the protest as I was in Ukraine, I was pleased to hear that constituents from Newbury made the journey to London to stand up for fair pay and proper funding and I will be meeting with them very soon. It is encouraging to see organisations such as Jigsaw Creative Care joining the call for action and putting pressure on the government to deliver real change. 

The social care sector is in crisis. Instead of delivering meaningful reform, Ministers have kicked the can down the road, leaving care providers struggling and people waiting far too long for the support they need. 

The consequences of this crisis are devastating—not just for care workers, but for the entire healthcare system. Over 45% of hospital discharge delays are linked to social care, with one in seven hospital beds occupied by people who are medically fit to leave but have nowhere to go. This is simply unsustainable. The government must commit to completing its review into social care within the year, not the three years currently planned, because the sector and those who rely on it cannot afford to wait any longer. The national insurance rise for care providers must be scrapped before it forces vital services to shut down. Free personal care should be introduced so that access is based on need rather than ability to pay. A proper workforce plan is essential, including a higher Carer’s Minimum Wage and the creation of a Royal College of Care Workers to improve recognition and career progression. 

Investing in social care is not just the right thing to do—it is the smart thing to do. Recent research by the Local Government Association shows that every £1 spent on early intervention in social care saves £3.17 in the long run, with potential savings to the public purse reaching £11.1 billion.  

The government cannot afford to keep ignoring the crisis in social care. I hope this demonstration will make the government take notice and finally act. The care sector cannot be ignored any longer.