Don’t leave social care out of the equation | Letters

The article discusses the need for reform in the community-based care sector, as it is closely linked to the ongoing crisis in the NHS. The author, Kathryn Marsden, argues that the government's plans to modernize the NHS through prevention, neighborhood services, and digital tools will be ineffective if social care is not given equal attention. The article emphasizes that the NHS's year-round hospital overcrowding is the result of two interdependent systems, health, and social care, being under pressure. Unless there is sufficient capacity in community-based social care to support people recovering at home, the logjam will persist, and "corridor care" will remain a reality. The evidence presented suggests that timely investment in community services such as reablement and intermediate care can prevent unnecessary admissions, speed up safe discharges, and deliver strong returns on investment for the NHS. The author concludes that the government's vision for a modernized NHS will not be realized if social care is left out of the equation.