Theresa May recognises social care crisis – but solution seems far off

written by David Brindle on the Guardian Social Care Network

So now we have confirmation that the government is working on a long-term solution to the social care crisis. Or at least “starting internally to look” at the issue, which must be considered progress of some kind.

Those were the words of Theresa May under questioning by senior MPs at the Commons liaison committee, where her answers on social care were extracted as painfully as those on Brexit – the main business of the session – and on which the atmosphere felt almost as strained.

Beyond that we know very little. Asked for assurances that the review would be inclusive of opposition parties, the prime minister made a caustic aside about past experience and offered only an undertaking of full involvement “when there is a decision taken”.

Prompted to say that the review would consider social care in the context of the health and care system as a whole, May seemed to sense a trap and replied that it would not be considering the NHS budget as part of the exercise. It would, she said carefully, be important to “look at health alongside” social care.

And that’s it. Who is carrying out the review, where it is being done and on what timescale must be matters of speculation. Presumably as on Brexit, May does not propose to give us a running commentary.