Reforms to social care on hold in, crisis, says Minister

SOCIAL CARE reforms have been kicked into the long grass as a health Minister blamed a lack of “management or political capacity” caused by Covid- 19.

Lord Bethell acknowledged the strain on resources after telling peers it “wouldn’t be right” to launch an “industry- changing” reform process while the focus is on protecting vulnerable people.

He also reiterated the Government was committed to finding a long- term solution, amid claims from Conservative former Minister Lord Forsyth of Drumlean that Ministers were using Covid19 as an “excuse for procrastination”.

Lord Bethell last month conceded the Government’s longawaited social plan looked set to be delayed until next year, telling peers he could not commit to a plan before the end of 2020.

His latest comments have cast further doubt on the timetable as some experts have warned the UK could be battling high levels of Covid- 19 cases until spring.

Boris Johnson promised to “fix the crisis in social care once and for all” when he entered Downing Street in 2019.

Speaking in the House of Lords, Lord Forsyth said reform proposals with all- party support had been presented by peers in July 2019.

He added: “There has been no proper Government response, no opportunity to debate it.

“How much longer must people in desperate need have to wait for the Government to reach a conclusion?

“And I say to [ Lord Bethell], Covid is not an excuse for procrastination but an imperative for urgent action.”