Baroness Louise Casey, chair of the independent commission on adult social care, has stated that the care system supporting older and disabled people in England is cobbled together and confusing.
Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Casey highlighted the need for immediate action to address current failings, including establishing a national adult safeguarding board and introducing a full-time dementia tsar.
Casey described social care in England as a system where some needs are barely met, and others are met late and in piecemeal ways, with a total reliance on underpaying care workers.
Key Recommendations
Casey's recommendations include creating a new fast-track passport for people diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) and implementing a fair pay commitment for care workers.
The independent commission, which started work last summer, is due to produce a report this year with a plan for creating a National Care Service.
Response from Authorities
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services welcomed Casey's speech, stating it shines a welcome light on adult social care, an issue that has been missing from the national debate for far too long.
The MND Association also expressed support for Casey's recommendation of a fast-track passport for people with MND, stating that people with the disease should never have to fight to access the services they need.
Call for Cross-Party Support
Casey called for cross-party support to bring about the fundamental change required in the social care system, urging politicians to stop using the issue as a political football.
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey stated that Baroness Casey was right to highlight the broken care system, but questioned why the government was still dragging its feet on implementing reforms.
