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How should the next government approach social care?

On his first day as prime minister in 2019, Boris Johnson declared that his party was going to “fix the crisis in social care once and for all”.

However, five years and two more Conservative prime ministers later and the adult social care sector continues to face major challenges amid an ageing population with increasingly complex needs.

As the next general election looms, Nursing Times wants to hear suggestions from nursing and midwifery professionals for how the next UK Government should approach adult social care.

Your ideas will form the latest chapter of our Manifesto by Nurses, which we plan to deliver to the main political parties going to the polls.

A form is available at the end of this story to complete your submission.

Questions that you could look to answer include:

  • What can be done to improve recruitment and retention of nurses in the adult social care sector?
  • Is closer working and integration between health and social care needed?
  • Do you have any thoughts on the best funding model for social care in future?
  • Is a National Care Service (NCS) akin to the NHS the answer?
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Currently, access to publicly-funded adult social care is means-tested to some degree in each UK country.

Both the Welsh and Scottish governments are in the early stages of progressing plans for an NCS in their countries, although details on how it would work are limited at present.

In addition, the Labour Party, which is currently predicted to win the next general election, has indicated that it may introduce a NCS for England.

In the meantime, challenges that have long burdened the sector – including staffing shortages and funding constraints and complications – continue, with health and social care groups warning that long-called-for reforms can wait no longer.

To provide your ideas for the social care chapter of the Manifesto by Nurses, click or tap here to take part before Monday, 22 April.

Alternatively, send your send your ideas in no more than 300 words to nursingtimesmanifesto@gmail.com, along with your full name, job role, location and a high-resolution picture of yourself.

Please note that, by doing so, you are agreeing to be potentially named, quoted and pictured in Nursing Times, both online and in our print publications.

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