Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
69% want social care to be PM’S top priority
Pressure to deliver in Queen’s Speech
CAMPAIGNERS are urging the Government to prioritise social care in tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech, in a call backed by more than two-thirds of people.
The speech will outline the programme Boris Johnson hopes to steer through Parliament.
A survey out today shows 69% of people believe the social care crisis should be a top priority for ministers.
But speaking yesterday, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove would only say that a social care plan would be “unveiled later this year”.
Entering No10 in July 2019, Mr Johnson insisted: “We will fix the crisis in social care once and for all, with a clear plan we have prepared.”
But there is still no date for when proposals will be revealed.
The study, for charity care provider MHA by Atomik Research, also reveals 43% think the Government does not care about older people’s needs.
Sam Monaghan, MHA chief executive, said: “Our research clearly shows that the public now sees social care as a top priority.
“For far too long older people and their needs have been neglected.
“There have been green papers, white papers, commissions, reviews... yet still the system remains broken.”
Shadow Care Minister Liz Kendall said: “The Prime Minister promised to fix the crisis almost two years ago. This research makes it clear – in tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech, he must deliver.” Pensioners’ group Silver Voices said the survey “shows the pain and suffering caused by the social care crisis can no longer be buried in the political long grass”.
Its director, Dennis Reed, added: “It would be an absolute scandal if the Queen’s Speech does not feature social care as a priority.”
The Department of Health and Social Care said: “Improving the adult social care system remains a priority.
“Throughout the pandemic we have provided almost £1.8billion in specific funding for adult social care.”
The Mirror has campaigned for Fair Care for All since 2018.