**Health**
## Governments ‘Asleep at the Wheel’ on Social Care, Warns Baroness Casey
**LONDON, England –** Baroness Casey, a leading figure overseeing a critical review into public services, has issued a scathing indictment of successive governments, accusing them of being “asleep at the wheel” over England’s beleaguered social care system. Her stark warning highlights systemic failures, particularly concerning the significant variability in service provision and the often-exorbitant fees levied upon self-funding individuals.
Speaking out forcefully, Baroness Casey underscored the profound inequities permeating the current framework. She specifically condemned the “postcode lottery” nature of social care services, where the quality and availability of support can differ dramatically based solely on geographic location. This lack of consistent standards, she argued, creates immense stress and uncertainty for families navigating complex care needs.
Furthermore, Baroness Casey reserved sharp criticism for the financial burden placed on self-funders. These individuals, who do not meet local authority eligibility criteria for financial assistance, often face disproportionately higher fees than those whose care is state-funded. This two-tier system, she asserted, forces many to rapidly deplete lifelong savings, with little transparency or justification for the premium rates charged, further exposing the government’s failure to regulate the sector effectively.
Her powerful metaphor of governments being “asleep at the wheel” encapsulates a perceived inertia and lack of strategic vision in addressing a crisis that impacts millions. The review, which she heads, is expected to provide further detailed recommendations, but her preliminary comments serve as an urgent call for political leadership and decisive action to overhaul a system widely regarded as broken and unsustainable.
