Andy Burnham has warned the NHS will "collapse" unless England's broken social care system is urgently reformed, piling pressure on the Government to tackle one of the country's longest-running policy failures. The Prime Minister stopped short of setting a timetable for reform, but insisted fixing social care is essential if the health service is to recover from years of mounting pressure. 'The NHS Cannot Cope' Speaking to the BBC, Burnham said the NHS would never return to acceptable waiting times while hospitals continued caring for patients who should instead be supported through a functioning social care system. He warned that without reform, the health service would buckle under the strain. While refusing to commit to a deadline, he made clear the cost of delay would be borne by both patients and the NHS itself. Pressure Builds for Long-Delayed Reform Unlike NHS treatment, social care in England is means-tested, leaving many people to pay significant costs or sell their homes to fund care. Anyone with savings above £23,250 generally receives no financial support from their local authority. Burnham has long argued for a national care service, having first proposed sweeping reforms while serving as health secretary under Gordon Brown. Those plans never materialised after fierce political opposition, and the funding debate continues to divide Westminster. Funding Row Moves Centre Stage Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has challenged Burnham to rule out tax rises or increased borrowing to pay for social care reforms, setting the stage for another battle over public spending. The Government is expected to outline its approach in the coming days as ministers seek to balance demands for improved public services with growing pressure on the public finances. Welfare Reform Also in the Spotlight Burnham also argued Britain must become "really serious" about reducing the welfare bill, while rejecting what he described as crude benefit cuts. He said rising housing benefit costs reflected decades of declining social housing, arguing that building more council homes would reduce long-term welfare spending more sustainably. The Prime Minister also suggested tougher conditions could be attached to some benefits while expanding support to help people into work, particularly through improved workplace mental health services. Burnham ruled out calling an early general election, insisting the country did not want another trip to the polls before 2029 and arguing the Government's focus should remain on delivering reform rather than political manoeuvring. Andy Burnham warns NHS will collapse unless social care is reformed
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