Marie Curie joins group asking Prime Minister to lead on social care reform

Marie Curie Cancer Care has joined a group of leaders - from local government, health and social care providers, businesses, the third sector, employers, housing providers, faith groups and unions - in an open letter calling on the Prime Minister to take urgent action to tackle a growing crisis in social care.

The letter, published today in the Daily Mail, has been signed by 85 organisations representing people on the frontline of the care crisis - doctors, nurses, care workers, disabled and older people and their families.

They warn that the social care system is in crisis; chronically under-funded and in urgent need of reform. The signatories call on the Prime Minister to take leadership to help solve the crisis in social care by personally convening a care summit bringing together all the stakeholders.

Marie Curie Cancer Care signed the letter as a member of the Care and Support Alliance, a group of organisations representing older people, those with disabilities and long term conditions and their families.

Marie Curie Cancer Care is campaigning to ensure the means-testing to access social care is stopped for people who are terminally ill. The current processes are overly burdensome. This means that all too often terminally ill people end up remaining in hospital in their last days of life, while the NHS and the local authority decide who should pay for their social care. Marie Curie knows that most people would rather be at home with their loved ones.

Marie Curie Cancer Care is working to ensure people are supported to spend their final days in their place of choice, with equal and fair access to services across the UK. To find out how you can help, visit our 'Campaign for free social care at end of life' page.

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