Wes Streeting has denied that the government is slow to solve the UK’s social care crisis

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The UK government has rejected criticism that it is slowing tackling the crisis in social care, saying a review of one of the country’s most intractable political problems will not be completed until 2028.

The first phase of the review, led by experienced Whitehall troubleshooter Baroness Louise Casey, is due to report in mid-2026. It identifies critical issues facing adult social care and makes recommendations for medium-term improvement.

But the second phase, which will give long-term recommendations to tackle Britain’s aging population, will not report until 2028 – the year before the next general election.

Asked on Friday if he was kicking the problem into the tall grass, Wes StreetingThe health minister told the BBC: “I think that would be a valid criticism if we hadn’t done a lot in the first six months, if we hadn’t done social work.”

He added: “Part one of the Casey Commission is not reporting in 2028 – it is reporting next year.”

But Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King’s Fund health and social care think tank, urged ministers to speed up the commission, saying it was “too long to wait” for care seekers and their families.

Natasha Carey, deputy director of policy at the Nuffield Trust research group, said there needed to be more urgency from ministers given the “high costs” facing the care sector – higher National Insurance payments.

“The desire to implement comprehensive reforms in the medium to long term as part of a phased plan is understandable, but more urgent support for social care needs to come,” she added.

Baroness Casey’s appointment is an attempt to break the political deadlock after decades of wrangling over social care, which has been fueled by the beleaguered NHS.

Although millions of people were affected, the issue was barely raised in last year’s general election.

A government-commissioned study published last year by Lord Ara Darzi Social care provision as “stressfulHe said. The peer said the lack of funding had “serious human toll and economic consequences” for the elderly and their families.

Sir Tony Blair, under the last Labor government, set up a royal commission into care for the elderly in early 1997, but rejected recommendations for free personal care on the grounds of cost.

Since then, various government initiatives have been proposed to finance the social care system, only to face public opposition.

Successive governments have postponed the introduction of a lifetime allowance that any individual must contribute to their personal care in England.

The cap – set at £86,000 under the last Tory government – was due to come into force this October but plans have been extended again indefinitely after Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ ministers discovered what she described as a £22bn “black hole” in the public finances. .

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said Casey’s review could finally break the “logjam” on social care funding.

“We say ‘potentially’ because we have no doubt that Baroness Casey will do a good job, but the real question is whether the Government will act decisively on her conclusions.”

Woolnough at The King’s Fund said the first phase of the Casey review should see greater use of data and technology in the sector and better integration with the merger. NHS And making adult social care a more attractive job.

Streeting also announced an £86m increase in funding for disabled facilities, taking the annual total to £711mn for disabled and elderly people to improve their homes.