Select Committee social care report: Government expects taxpayer to “pay for the privilege of their own suffering”

EMBARGO: 00.01 Monday 5th May

Responding to the Health and Social Care Committee's report, which calls inaction on social care “untenable” and shows that the Government and taxpayers are currently paying £32 billion a year for a broken system, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said:

“There could not be a starker contrast between the Government’s approach and the Committee’s findings. Now it has been laid out in black and white that inaction is untenable, the Government must see sense and approach social care reform with the urgency it demands.

“To do anything less would be an affront to taxpayers, who are currently footing this monstrous bill for a broken system which then only too often fails them in their time of need. People cannot be expected to pay for the privilege of their own suffering any longer.

“The Conservatives’ mismanagement created this mess, but Labour is taking the public for a ride at this point. Let’s not forget unpaid carers, who effectively prop up this broken system despite woefully inadequate support.

“Delay is no longer an option. We will continue to say what needs to be said until the Government listens: they must wrap up the Commission on social care within the year so reform can be implemented as soon as possible. This is what the public deserves.”

ENDS