Study exposes stark postcode disparities in England's publicly funded social care

A King’s Fund report reveals a pronounced postcode lottery in England’s publicly funded long-term social care, with council-to-council variations of 20 % or more in access rates. When matched on social and economic characteristics, some areas differ by as much as 101 % for working-age adults and 60 % for seniors, exemplified by Thurrock’s 7,680 per 100,000 older people receiving care compared with Medway’s 4,810. The findings arrive after Prime Minister Andy Burnham promised a National Care Service akin to the NHS from 2028.

The think-tank urges reforms that guarantee universal access, introduce co-payments, cap lifetime costs, and shift funding to a national level. Co-author Simon Bottery highlighted that currently one in seven people aged 65 will incur at least £100,000 in care expenses, underscoring the need for a fairer system. The Department for Health and Social Care was contacted for comment but did not respond.