Introduction
In this edition of Bridgehead Social Care's monthly news round-up we examine the adult social care sector's political and media coverage over the past month.
Between 1 and 31 January, references to 'adult social care' were made in 63 separate events across the Houses of Parliament and devolved assemblies, ranging from written answers and ministerial statements to debates in the chamber. This figure is around 40 per cent higher than December's coverage statistics.
For context, the chart below plots mentions of adult social care on a month-by-month basis over the past 12 months.
In the media, there was a sharp increase in coverage concerning social care.
Between 1 and 31 December, references to 'adult social care' appeared in 750 unique media articles across the UK, a figure 92 per cent higher than December's coverage statistics, which stood at 391 articles.
For context, the chart below plots mentions of adult social care on a month-by-month basis over the past 12 months.
To go into detail regarding the attention the sector has received in the Houses of Parliament, devolved assemblies and in the media, here are our political and media roundups followed by our top five stories of the month.
Political Roundup
Political discussions in January 2025 have been dominated by the government’s announcement of an independent commission to reform adult social care, sparking both cautious optimism and significant concerns over the timescales involved.
A new commission, familiar challenges
The newly established Casey Commission, led by former senior civil servant Baroness Louise Casey, aims to address the long-standing issues plaguing the social care sector. Tasked with laying the foundations for a future National Care Service, the commission will focus on building cross-party consensus to achieve systemic reform rooted in fairness and equality.
Care Minister Stephen Kinnock stated that the commission will “tackle both the immediate issues and the fundamental challenges that must be addressed if we are to get our adult social care system back on its feet and fit for the future.” The commission’s initial report is expected by mid-2026, with final recommendations not due until 2028.
Concerns over delays
While the commission’s establishment has been welcomed by sector leaders, the timeline has raised serious concerns. The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) warned that waiting until 2028 for meaningful reforms risks deepening the current crisis.
ADASS President Melanie Williams stated, “Unfortunately, the timescales announced are too long and mean there won’t be tangible changes until 2028. We already know much of the evidence and options on how to reform adult social care and worry that continuing to tread water will be at the detriment of people’s health and wellbeing.”
Similarly, Caroline Abrahams of Age UK described the commission as “unequivocally good news,” but expressed scepticism about the government’s commitment to acting decisively on its conclusions. “Even if all goes well, it will be the early 2030s before older people and their families see substantial benefits from a transformed approach to social care.”
Calls for immediate action
Critics argue that the government should not wait for the commission’s final report to implement known solutions. Andrew Dilnot, who chaired the 2011 Dilnot Commission on social care, suggested that Baroness Casey could deliver recommendations by the end of 2025, calling the current timeline “a matter of political courage.”
Sector leaders have highlighted urgent priorities, including workforce development, better integration with the NHS, and accelerated adoption of technology to improve care quality. The government has announced some immediate measures, such as an £86 million increase to the Disabled Facilities Grant and plans to skill up care staff for basic health checks, but these are seen as insufficient given the scale of the crisis.
Political fallout
Health Secretary Wes Streeting defended the government’s approach, stating, “This isn’t about kicking the can down the road. We’re already acting on social care and laying the groundwork for long-term reform.” Streeting emphasised that the first phase of the commission would report during the current parliament, aiming to establish a national care service with consistent, high-quality standards across the country.
However, opposition politicians have criticised the government for perpetuating a cycle of delay. Foyle MP Colum Eastwood called the timeline “a recipe for paralysis rather than progress,” warning that thousands of vulnerable people will remain in limbo while the commission conducts its work.
As cross-party talks on social care begin next month, the political landscape is increasingly shaped by demands for immediate action alongside long-term reform. Without swift and decisive measures, critics fear that the sector’s ongoing struggles will have devastating consequences for care recipients, providers, and communities alike.
Parliament
There were a number of discussions in Parliament over the social care workforce crisis. Highlights of this included:
In a recent parliamentary session, Care Minister Stephen Kinnock highlighted the government’s efforts to improve conditions in the adult social care sector, stating, “We have introduced legislation to deliver the first Fair Pay Agreement in adult social care to empower worker representatives, employers, and others to negotiate pay and terms and conditions.”
Chris Law, SNP MP, raised concerns about the exploitation of migrant care workers on health and social care visas, noting their dependency on employers for visa sponsorship leaves them vulnerable to abuse, adding that "workers often feel too disempowered to ask the authorities for protection."
Related to the wider economics of the social care sector, contributions included:
Baroness Merron, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care, emphasised the importance of unpaid carers in sustaining the adult social care system, noting that, “the 4.7 million unpaid carers ... effectively hold the adult social care system together.”
Clive Lewis, Labour MP, challenged the government to reconsider its approach to economic growth, asking, “What kind of growth do we want?” He criticised growth driven by environmentally harmful projects and advocated for investment in sectors like well-paid adult social care, urging the government to prioritise growth that supports both social welfare and environmental sustainability.
Media Roundup
Key themes of the coverage in January concerned the Government's announcement of the Casey Commission into social care. As such, the timeline, delay and concern over likely implementation were all extensively covered.
The Financial Times, among many other publications including Sky News, The Times, BBC News and The Guardian, reports that the UK government’s review of adult social care, led by Baroness Louise Casey, will not deliver its long-term recommendations until 2028, sparking criticism over the delayed response to the crisis.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting defended the timeline, citing ongoing reforms, but experts from The King’s Fund and Nuffield Trust argue that the process lacks urgency amid rising sector costs. Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of The King’s Fund, warned that the delay risks leaving vulnerable people without adequate support, urging the government to accelerate reforms.
BBC News highlights North Yorkshire Council’s approval of plans to build up to five dedicated care hubs, described as a move that will “revolutionise” local care services. The £60 million investment aims to improve dementia care and intermediate support, reducing hospital admissions and easing post-hospital rehabilitation.
Councillor Michael Harrison described the hubs as a “pioneering” initiative to deliver specialist care while ensuring better value for taxpayers. The first hubs will be developed in Harrogate and Scarborough, with detailed plans underway.
The Guardian reports that Sir Andrew Dilnot has criticised the government’s three-year timeline for social care reform as “inappropriate,” arguing that with strong political backing, changes could be implemented by the end of 2025. Dilnot stressed that reform requires leadership from the very top, calling delays a sign of “political timidity.” He described the current state of care as “simply unacceptable” in a wealthy society, pointing to the human cost of inaction, including patients stuck in hospital corridors and elderly people forced to sell their homes to pay for care.
Care Home Professional reveals that the NHS experienced its busiest winter week yet, with 97,636 beds occupied and 96 per cent of adult general and acute beds filled. Alarmingly, 1 in 7 beds were taken by patients fit for discharge but unable to leave due to social care delays, contributing to “corridor care” in A&Es. Dr Adrian Boyle of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine condemned the situation as “shameful,” highlighting the dangerous impact on patient safety.
Finally, Community Care reports that council fee increases have lagged behind National Living Wage (NLW) hikes for the third consecutive year, with 85 per cent of providers in 2024 stating that fees are insufficient to cover rising wage costs.
Financial Times - Wes Streeting denies government is delaying tackling UK social care crisis
The UK government’s social care review, led by Baroness Louise Casey, will have its first phase report in 2026, with long-term recommendations not due until 2028, sparking criticism over delays in addressing the crisis.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting defended the timeline, citing ongoing actions in social care, while critics from The King’s Fund and Nuffield Trust argue that the review process lacks urgency amid soaring care sector costs.
Social care reform has faced decades of political deadlock, with past initiatives like the £86,000 cap on personal care costs repeatedly postponed, most recently due to a £22bn public finance shortfall.
Experts emphasise the need for immediate support, calling for better integration with the NHS, use of data and technology, and making social care a more attractive career path.
The government has allocated an additional £86 million to the Disabled Facilities Grant, raising the total to £711 million for home improvements to support elderly and disabled individuals.
North Yorkshire Council has approved plans to build up to five dedicated care hubs aimed at improving dementia services and providing intermediate care to prevent hospital admissions and support post-hospital rehabilitation.
The £60 million investment is expected to reduce adult social care costs, providing care for up to 250 people simultaneously at a lower weekly cost than current services.
By 2043, one-third of the county's population will be over 65, with dementia cases projected to exceed 15,000 by 2030, increasing pressure on local care services.
The hubs will offer residential care for people with advanced dementia and bed-based care for those discharged from hospitals but still needing support.
The first hubs will be established in Harrogate and Scarborough, with detailed plans for each site currently in development.
The Guardian - ‘Get this done’: Andrew Dilnot attacks three-year plan for English social care
Sir Andrew Dilnot criticised the government’s three-year timeline for social care reform as "inappropriate," arguing changes could be in place by the end of 2025 with strong political backing.
Dilnot stressed that reform requires top-level political support, urging the Prime Minister to lead decisively, calling the delay a matter of lacking "political courage."
Dilnot described current care challenges as "simply unacceptable" in a wealthy society, emphasising the urgent need to address the crisis affecting vulnerable individuals and families.
Despite years of political consensus and multiple policy papers, social care reforms have repeatedly stalled, leading experts to liken the process to "Groundhog Day."
Ed Davey criticised Labour for slow progress, agreeing with Dilnot that reform could be achieved within a year, highlighting the human cost of delays, including patients stuck in hospital corridors and elderly people selling homes to afford care.
Care Home Professional - ‘Busiest week’ for NHS as 1 in 7 hospital beds taken up by patients fit enough to be discharged but awaiting social care
The NHS experienced its busiest winter week with 97,636 beds occupied and 96 per cent of adult general and acute beds filled; 1 in 7 beds were taken by patients fit for discharge due to social care delays.
Delayed discharges caused “corridor care” in A&Es, with patients left on trolleys in hallways, leading to dangerously long waits, described as “shameful” by emergency medicine leaders.
Flu cases remain 3.5 times higher than last year (4,929 daily), alongside 1,112 Covid patients, 650 norovirus cases (up 44 per cent from last year), and double the number of RSV cases in children compared to 2023.
The NHS opened 1,000 more beds than last year and reduced ambulance handover delays by 40 per cent; 29 million flu, Covid, and RSV vaccines have been administered since autumn.
The Government acknowledged ongoing pressures despite ending strikes and increasing vaccinations, with commitments to long-term reforms under the government’s "Plan for Change."
Community Care - Council social care fee rises lag national living wage hike for third year running, providers report
For the past three years, council fee increases have not kept pace with rises in the National Living Wage (NLW), with 85 per cent of providers in 2024 reporting fees were insufficient to cover wage increases.
91 per cent of providers cite workforce-related costs as top financial pressures, with pay identified as a key recruitment barrier and visa policy changes reducing the supply of overseas staff.
While deficits (29 per cent) and service closures (29 per cent) have decreased since 2023, cost pressures remain high, and reliance on agency staff has dropped significantly.
The 2024 Budget’s NLW rise and higher national insurance contributions will add an estimated £2.8bn to provider costs in 2025-26, far exceeding the £1.2bn in extra government funding.
Care England and Hft call for fully-funded wage increases, reversal of restrictive visa policies, long-term funding linked to inflation, pay parity with NHS roles, and national commissioning standards.
