On BBC TV* Sir Simon Stevens says the coronavirus crisis must bring change.
Key workers are central: “In the NHS and also in social care the whole success of the service relies on our frontline staff.”
“What this has done is shine a harsh spotlight on the resilience, and if any good is to come of it we must use it as a moment to once and for all properly resource the way in which social care works in this country.”
Sir Simon thinks a secure workforce, properly paid and valued, is essential to adequate social care.
“It was the 72nd anniversary of the NHS (but) it was also the 72nd anniversary of the National Assistance Act which kicked off the start of social care provision.”
“The reality (today) however is that after 2 decades of talking about it.….if you’ve got a situation where a quarter of your staff are on zero hours contracts and one third churn in employment each year, that is not the precondition for being able to provide adequate care for our older people.”
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* Andrew Marr Show, BBC 1, 05/07/20