Burnham Proposes National Care Service to Bolster NHS
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham suggests a publicly funded social care system, free at the point of use, to address systemic issues impacting the National Health Service.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, has put forward a proposal for a national care service in England, which he asserts would be free at the point of use. Burnham argues that the current state of social care in England is "threadbare" and that its deterioration will ultimately "break the NHS."
In an interview with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, Burnham stated his intention to develop a comprehensive plan for this new national care service. He indicated that this plan would be presented to the public for consideration during the next general election.
Responding to the proposal, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, also speaking to Kuenssberg, expressed concern that such a plan would likely necessitate "more tax rises." He characterized the concept as a "red line" for the Conservative party.