NHS 'will collapse' without social care reform, PM tells BBC

Andy Burnham warned the BBC that "the NHS volition collapse" unless societal attraction is reformed, adding that he could not set a timeline for such changes. Speaking in his first major interview since assuming the role of premier minister, Burnham said he would not leave office without delivering what he described as "substantial change" to the societal attraction system. He also suggested tightening eligibility for benefits, arguing that the government must become more rigorous about reducing the payment bill. Kemi Badenoch wrote to Burnham, urging him to either cancel planned tax increases or accept additional borrowing to fund societal attraction reform. During the BBC interview, Burnham cautioned that without improvement in societal care, the NHS would "collapse nether the value of trying to attraction for radical who've truly not needed to extremity up successful the NHS system." When pressed about unveiling a new strategy before the next election, he replied that he "couldn't enactment a timeline connected it close here, close now," though he pledged to devote "whatever governmental superior I person into fixing breached societal care." Burnham first outlined a universal approach to societal attraction in England in 2009 while serving as health chief under Gordon Brown. As premier minister, he is scheduled to deliver a speech on Wednesday concerning broad societal attraction. The BBC understands that he will not reveal a full strategy in that address; instead, he will announce an acceleration of the Casey Commission, an independent review that has been examining possible solutions for societal care. Baroness Louise Casey is not presently expected to issue her final recommendations until 2028, but Burnham said he aims to bring her timetable forward. He told the BBC, "Social attraction was connected longer way and I person brought it consecutive forward." Adult societal attraction provides support to help individuals live more independently, ranging from personal care such as washing to assistance with household tasks. Unlike the NHS, societal attraction is not free at the point of use. In England and Northern Ireland, individuals with savings exceeding £23,250 are not eligible for council‑funded help with care costs. Eligibility criteria differ in Wales and Scotland. Successive governments have found adult societal attraction a complex issue to address. Two years ago, Sir Keir Starmer faced criticism after Labour abandoned proposals for an £86,000 lifetime cap on care spending for people in England. In her letter to Burnham, Badenoch stated that "any solution to the issues astir societal attraction indispensable besides beryllium just to those who person made provisions and saved up implicit the people of their lives."