Provide additional emergency funding to the social care sector to help support services, and to commit to deliver a social care workforce plan by the end of 2026. We also want the Government to outline how it will ensure social care capacity is built into NHS discharge and winter planning.

We believe adult social care is under unsustainable pressure, and that reform is unlikely before 2028. In our view the sector cannot wait, as fewer people are able to access the care and support they need. Providers face rising costs, workforce shortages, and increasing demand, while funding has not kept pace. This is now impacting NHS services through delayed discharges and unmet need, with providers reducing capacity, handing back contracts, and limiting access to care. We call for immediate action to stabilise the system. This is a current system stability issue, not a future reform issue.