Today marks 700 days since the Government agreed to bring forward plans to adequately fund and improve the social care system – since then, this has been pushed back time and time again.

According to Age UK, more than 50,000 older people have died waiting in vain for care since the Government first said it would publish a Care Green Paper.  Over the same period, in excess of half a million older people (626,701) have had their requests for social care refused, and 7,240 older people have had the terrible experience of running down all their savings because of their care bills, leaving them reliant on the state to fund their care in future and with nothing to leave for loved ones after their death.

Moreover, during the same 700 day period, 1,263,844 older people have developed an unmet need, such as being able to wash or dress – 1,805 developing an unmet need every day.

The statistics and personal stories uncovered by Age UK are deeply distressing to read.  I cannot understand how the Conservative Government can hear these stories and continue to ignore the crisis in social care.  Locally, Surrey County Council is often quoted as possibly being the next local authority to follow Northamptonshire, and go bankrupt, mainly down to struggling with its social care commitments.

The Government has clearly failed, they have delayed the Social Care Green Paper six times because of their failure.  The Tories must now work with other political parties to achieve a genuine long term, sustainable settlement for the NHS and social care.

The Lib Dems would put a penny on income tax to directly invest funds in social care.  We will also keep making the case for a new, dedicated NHS and care tax to guarantee a modern, effective and efficient NHS and care system to ensure that when our loved ones need help, help is there.

The current system of social care is unsustainable and will buckle under the weight of demand.  With people living longer, increases in costs and decreases in funding, adult social care is at breaking point.  This is something that the Government must address in its Green Paper on social care and in the forthcoming Spending Review.