Andy Burnham has announced plans for a new National Care Service, a publicly funded system that provides free personal care for elderly people based on need. 

In a speech at the Labour Party Conference on Tuesday 29 September, the Prime Minister said it would be modelled on NHS principles to offer free support with essential daily activities. 

Plans will be drawn up ahead of the next general election ahead of a roll-out over the next parliament. 

James Arrowsmith, Partner in social care at UK and Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson, said: “Putting social care on an equal footing with healthcare is vital if we are to manage NHS resources. With this in mind, a National Care Service is the type of bold idea the UK needs to engage with the ageing population challenge and how this will be funded. 

“While we don’t yet know the more intricate details of how this will function, the direction of travel is evident in other aspects of government policy, with integrated neighbourhood health and care an ongoing area of focus. 

“The benefits of integrated teams, accessible to people in their communities, is well evidenced and we can expect neighbourhood working to remain a key part of future vision for care. Prevention of need and an emphasis on the role of technology is likely to remain. 

“What is uncertain is whether, and to what extent, structural change may be part of a move to a National Care Service. This includes questions as to whether responsibility will stay with local government in the long term, how funding will be calculated and distributed, and what the role of the private sector will be. 

“Arguably all three questions were already asked by the commencement of Baroness Casey’s work, but Burnham’s announcements brings them more prominence. All three are important questions and need to be answered, but the uncertainly while they remain to be determined poses challenges of its own. 

Workforce and suppliers may be uncertain as to their future role in the system.  Necessary change projects are likely to face the question of how to approach their work knowing that further change to the system is coming. 

“Burnham’s declaration that he will grasp the nettle of social care reform is helpful insofar as it sets out an intention to come to a clear long-term plan for care. Firm proposals can’t come soon enough for a sector that has been grappling with uncertainty for too many years.”

Laura Chinyere-Ezeh, Senior HR Consultant specialising in health and care at Browne Jacobson, added: “Andy Burnham's speech certainly inspired hope. Previous governments have acknowledged that we cannot fix the NHS without fixing social care, and we are beginning to see this political will translate into action – with the establishment of the Adult Social Care Negotiating Body, a £500m investment into the first ever fair pay agreement, and Burnham's ambitions for a national care service.

“This does feel like progress, but it is painfully slow. Carers deserve more. Service users deserve more. Care providers know better than to wait for government-led change, and so prioritising a culture where care professionals can thrive and develop must remain a continuing priority.”