We heard repeatedly that an absolutely critical lever for stabilising the adult social care market was tackling staff shortages and low retention. This would widen access to care and help to give unpaid carers a much-needed break. There is also the very real risk that the Government’s charging reforms do not immediately improve matters, for instance by drawing more people into the care system without having enough workers to deliver the care for which these people will now be eligible. We wer...

We heard repeatedly that an absolutely critical lever for stabilising the adult social care market was tackling staff shortages and low retention. This would widen access to care and help to give unpaid carers a much-needed break. There is also the very real risk that the Government’s charging reforms do not immediately improve matters, for instance by drawing more people into the care system without having enough workers to deliver the care for which these people will now be eligible. We were repeatedly told that the solution is to increase wages. It is little consolation to hear from the Minister for Care and Mental Health that only a fifth Type: conclusion | Number: 27 | Paragraph: 118 | Response status: under_consideration Government response: We welcome the committee’s interest in the government’s ambition to have shared care records for all citizens. The Digital Health and Care Plan, published in June 2022, sets out our expectation that by April 2025, health and care profession