Senior Nottinghamshire councillor says delays in social care reform are ‘unacceptable’ and are putting people at risk

Wes Streeting MP, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has announced an independent commission to report to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, on issues facing social care and recommendations on reform in 2026 - and a second phase by 2028 with longer term plans.

Councillor Jonathan Wheeler has said the delays are unacceptable.

He said: “We are seeing a huge increase in demand for care and, while our teams do a fantastic job day in and day out supporting our residents with their care needs, we need more funding and reform to the entire sector to continue to meet the increased demand we are seeing with an aging population.”

Cllr Wheeler and Cllr Tom Smith, Deputy Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, wrote to the Government in November outlining changes needed for the Disabled Facilities Grant to enable better use of the funding.

Cllr Smith welcomed the increased funding but reiterated the need to reform the way funds are distributed.

He said: "We need to have flexibility to allocate more of the funding where there is greater need, and we will continue to make the case for this to the Government."

Cllr Wheeler added: “Demand is increasing here in Nottinghamshire and across the county for Adult Social Care, and the more reforms are delayed, the more talk is done and no action, the more people are put at risk.

"The Government has shown it can accelerate timetables on other projects when it suits, so we need them to listen to the feedback from across the sector and get to grips with this sooner rather than later.”