The pandemic focused the attention of the whole country on social care.
Over the past 18 months we’ve provided £2 billion to stop the spread of Covid in care but the fragility of the system has never been clearer.
We’ve seen the unsung heroes of our health and care system - the care workers - take on so much of the burden. Having spoken to many, I am forever humbled by their compassion and commitment in such extraordinary circumstances.
As we rebuild from the pandemic, we’re determined to fix the long-term problems of health and social care with record levels of investment.
From 2023, we’re putting an absolute limit on what people need to pay for personal care, giving everyone the security of knowing that they will not face unknown and unlimited costs.
We’re also giving people with modest savings or wealth a greater safety net, with far more people becoming eligible for state-funded support.
Over the next three years the Health and Care Levy will provide £5.4 billion for social care, with at least £500 million of the funding going into training, career opportunities and staff wellbeing.
I’ll continue to work with people across the sector – including those in Faversham and Mid Kent – to deliver the changes in social care that people want to see.
