Care leader challenges Tory candidates to visit social care frontline

A prominent industry campaigner has challenged the two remaining candidates for the Tory leadership to visit the frontline of social care delivery and say what they plan to do to end the social care crisis.

Mike Padgham, Chair of the provider organisation The Independent Care Group (ICG) has written an urgent letter to Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, calling on them to outline their plans for social care.

Mr Padgham said: ‘I challenge the two candidates to visit front line delivery of social care and see for themselves the crisis facing the care of our oldest and most vulnerable.

‘We need urgent action to ensure the country does not suffer a catastrophic failure in the delivery of care accompanied by further collapse in the provision of NHS healthcare.

‘Years of neglect and under-funding combined with the current staffing shortages and soaring cost of living are pushing care providers to the brink of survival.’

In his letter, Mr Padgham writes: ‘We deserve to see from you, who hope to be our next Prime Minister, what you intend to do to create a proper, sustainable sector to look after our most vulnerable.

‘This must begin with a diversion of the Health and Social Care Levy to social care to properly fund the sector, end the loss of provision and provide proper pay and career structures for care workers.

‘I extend that open invitation to you to visit a care provider or am happy to meet with you whenever and wherever you wish to discuss this critical issue.

‘There is an opportunity for the next Prime Minister to make a very real difference straight away. But we need to hear how you plan to do it and we need to hear that now.’

Photo by Nick Kane