Care England, the leading voice for adult social care providers in England, acknowledges the government’s announcement to abolish NHS England and bring the management of the health service back under direct government control. This unprecedented move represents a seismic change to the health and social care landscape and presents a significant opportunity to reset the dial on integration, funding, and innovation.
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said:
“The decision to abolish NHS England is one of the most significant reforms to our health and social care system in a generation. While the full implications of this change are yet to be seen, this is a moment to ensure that social care is fully recognised as an equal partner in the health and care system. The success of the NHS depends on a sustainable and properly funded social care sector, and this announcement must mark the beginning of a new era of integration and collaboration.”
For too long, adult social care has been treated as a secondary consideration in health system reforms. With the government’s commitment to reducing bureaucracy and directing more resources to frontline staff, there is now a unique opportunity to develop innovative models of care that truly integrate social care and health services.
While we need to ensure that immediate changes do not disrupt Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding processes for the current financial year, this is also a crucial opportunity to rethink how CHC is funded, and lay the foundation for a national framework that aligns CHC processes with Funded Nursing Care (FNC) practice, providing much needed fairness and predictability across the sector.
Care England is calling for:
- A clear strategy on how social care will be embedded in the new structures to drive better outcomes for people who rely on both services.
- A commitment to sustainable funding for social care to support hospital discharge, reduce pressure on the NHS, and enable people to live independently for longer.
- A national CHC framework that mirrors FNC practice, ensuring fair, consistent, and timely decisions across all local areas.
Professor Martin Green OBE added:
“If this change is to succeed, it must not be a rebranding exercise. It must deliver real benefits for people who need care and support. Social care is not an adjunct to the NHS, it is a vital part of the system, and this reform must finally acknowledge that reality.”
Care England will engage with the government to ensure that the voice of the adult social care sector is heard throughout this process, and that the new structures deliver genuine collaboration, efficiency, and improved care outcomes.
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