BURNHAM WARNS NHS FACES COLLAPSE WITHOUT SOCIAL CARE REFORM

Andy Burnham, Prime Minister, has warned that the NHS faces collapse unless the social care system undergoes substantial reform. In an interview with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, said to air on Monday, Mr Burnham stated he will use his "political capital" to find solutions and does not want to leave office without bringing about significant change. He indicated he expects major changes to social care could be made before the next election. Mr Burnham declined to set a timeline for the reform, saying: "I can't put a timeline on it right here, right now."

The Prime Minister stated that social care reform costs the NHS billions of pounds annually and that improved waiting time standards cannot be achieved without fixing the sector. Mr Burnham also indicated he wants to make it harder to claim benefits, saying the country must "get serious" about bringing the welfare bill down. He is expected to give a speech this week setting out his position on social care. Mr Burnham's father, Roy, has Alzheimer's disease and lives in a care home.

When asked by Ms Kuenssberg whether reform was about political will, Mr Burnham responded that he would put whatever political capital he has into fixing what he described as "broken social care" and the creation of "a new system of social care". His comments come amid longstanding debate over how to address social care provision in England, an issue that has generated repeated policy proposals across successive governments without reaching consensus on a funding model or delivery structure.