Barbara Keeley MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Care, Carers and Older People, responding to The King’s Fund and Nuffield Trust’s warning about growing inequalities in social care provision, said:

“This report is further evidence that the Government’s plan to fund social care is completely inadequate.

“The growing crisis in older people’s care is one of the key reasons why the NHS is under so much pressure.

“300,000 fewer older people are now getting the crucial help they need than when David Cameron came to power. This means more older people ending up in hospital and delayed discharges hitting a record high.

“Ministers cannot allow this neglect of social care services to go on.”