Burnham warns of 'difficult' funding decisions ahead and says 'social care in England is as unfair as American healthcare'
The Prime Minister vowed to “be honest with people” and “do more” with existing resources first
Andy Burnham has today warned of 'difficult' funding decisions ahead as he pledged to tackle Britain's social care crisis.
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Setting out his initial plans from a care home in Enfield, the Prime Minister said that “in an ideal world" he "would not want anybody to have to sell their home to pay for care”, branding it a “horrendous” experience.
It comes as Burnham insisted that social care in England had become "as unfair as American healthcare".
The Prime Minister vowed to “be honest with people” and “do more” within existing resources first, as he admitted: "It needs to be recognised that people can see everything they've worked for wiped out with care."
Joined by Yvette Cooper and Baroness Casey as he unveiled plans to reform the crippled sector, Ms Casey admitted a "big conversation on care" was required, with the Prime Minister initiating cross-party talks on reforming the social care system.
It follows recent calls with Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.
As part of her speech, Baroness Casey pledged to tackle the ongoing issue of social care - as Burnham vowed to bring her report on social care reforms forward by a year.
"In an ideal world I wouldn't want anybody to have to sell their home to pay for care," Burnham insisted as he answered questions on Wednesday.
"I think the whole thing is horrendous for those who live through it, paying for care that often isn't good enough care.
"I think the system isn't right and in an ideal world I wouldn't want to see that," he added, insisting the chronic underfunding of social care might end "If everybody contributed a little"
The Prime Minister was also seen to hit out at political point-scoring and headlines linked to his attempts to tackle the social care crisis.
“It’s a major dereliction of public duty that Parliament has not faced up to this of all challenges, something so fundamental to life as this," he said.
“It’s shameful, to be honest, that politicians have put point scoring before fixing this issue, but that’s what’s happened."
“It’s created a feeling in Westminster that this is too difficult, and if you take it on, you’re taking on too big a political risk.”
Mr Burnham said the savings to the NHS from fixing issues around social care could help fund a reformed system.
It comes as the Prime Minister addressed the assisted dying debate and its link to the "shameful" state of social care.
When asked about his position on the bill, Burnham said: "I take the view that that debate – and I don't say that there shouldn't be a debate at some point about those issues...
"Personally, I think there's something that needs to happen first, and that's the fixing of the funding of palliative care and social care.
"I think it is very challenging to introduce that wider debate in a context of people not receiving that care and having the peace of mind about that care."
Burnham addressed concerns head-on, with the PM adding: "You've probably got a feeling of deja vu, don't you?
"You've probably got that but don't have that, because this time we're going to do it right. We're going to do it."