I had the pleasure of meeting a group of older people and their carers, and staff from Age UK, at Devizes Town Hall today. They explained the enormous challenges that people face in navigating the social care system, which is not simply underfunded but impossibly complicated. At the same time, it was great to hear about all the help that people do get, some funded by the NHS or the council, and some provided directly and informally through the network of charities and community groups, many of which have sprung up in the last two years of Covid. As we debate the future of social care - with the Government's proposals due soon - we need to make sure that the families and communities that provide so much social care are properly supported.
