Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 27
27
Rejected
Commission research to quantify the full costs of inaction on adult social care reform.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government commissions research with the aim of fully quantifying the cost of doing nothing on adult social care reform. That research should seek to quantify costs to individuals, including unpaid carers and care workers, to local authorities, to care providers, to the NHS and to the economy. Cost is not just about money, it is also about non-monetary personal costs, including individual wellbeing across these specified groups. This research should be completed ahead of the final report of the Casey Commission, to enable a full cost-benefit analysis of 57 any recommendations she puts forward and to ensure that the Government can start building the public and political support it will need to guarantee the longevity of reform. The moral case for reform has never been stronger, but this must be accompanied by a robust financial case. Without this we fear that the reforms that come out of the Casey Commission will be doomed to failure, leaving everyone continuing to suffer under the current unsustainable system. (Recommendation, Paragraph 137) 58
Government Response Summary
The government rejects commissioning a dedicated study to quantify the cost of inaction on adult social care reform. It states it already commissions a wide range of research and data through the NIHR to inform its approach to reform.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
As set out above, the government recognises the significant challenges facing the adult social care system and agrees that reform is essential. We agree with the committee that ‘doing nothing’ is not an option - and this government is committed to building a more sustainable, fair and effective social care system that meets the needs of the population. The committee’s report rightly highlights how previous attempts at reform have proved challenging. That is why the Prime Minister has appointed Baroness Casey to lead the independent commission. Baroness Casey is one of our country’s leading public service reformers and has earned her reputation as one of Whitehall’s greatest doers. She has proven experience in dealing with complex social issues, carrying out impactful reforms and driving national strategies. We understand the intention behind the recommendation to quantify the cost of inaction, and we agree that a robust evidence base is vital to inform the case for future reform. While the government does not intend to commission a dedicated study of this nature, we continue to commission a wide range of research and data, alongside working with partner organisations, to inform our approach to reform. DHSC regularly reviews its evidence needs, and commissions new research and evaluation to fill priority gaps, primarily through the NIHR. The NIHR is England’s largest funder of social care research and has a range of funding programmes including the Policy Research Programme, which funds high quality and cost-effective research to deliver relevant, timely and accessible evidence to inform national policy decisions across the health, care and public health systems. DHSC directly commissions a range of research through the Policy Research Programme and other NIHR programmes to respond to priority evidence needs and adult social care challenges.