In response to Andy Burnham's announcements on social care in England made today, Dr Emma Runswick, deputy chair of BMA council, said:

 

"Social care and the NHS are bound inextricably together. As the Prime Minister acknowledged in his speech, doctors and NHS staff today are struggling because politicians have kicked the can on social care so far down the road. Privatisation, underfunding, poor staffing and lack of space in care means we can't discharge our patients from hospital, leaving emergency departments to treat people in corridors. People who should be receiving social care are ending up instead in hospital, compounding the strain on the system.

 

"Mr Burnham’s instinct to seek political consensus is commendable, but this must not delay solutions. Doctors will look forward to taking part in the promised 'Big Conversation on Care' and will hope that it can establish genuine solutions for the care sector and indeed the NHS for the long term. We won't shy away from explaining the trade-offs ahead - a National Care Service will cost the public money just as a National Health Service does. We hope that politicians will speak with similar candour."

Notes to editors