Care England Says Backing Social Care Investment Will Save Lives and Strengthen the UK Economy

Care England has responded to the open letter issued to the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care by leading health economists, which sets out the severe consequences of agreeing to higher branded drug prices as part of ongoing UK–US and UK–EU trade discussions.

The economists’ analysis shows that raising the price the NHS pays for pharmaceuticals by around £1bn would result in approximately 4,500 additional deaths, significant reductions in NHS capacity, worsening health inequalities and at least £130m in additional annual costs for local authorities. The modelling also demonstrates that such a deal would cause at least a £6bn loss to UK GDP, far outweighing any benefit from increased pharmaceutical investment. In contrast, investing the same funding into the NHS and adult social care would deliver the greatest possible return to the country, generating up to £20 of social and economic value for every £1 spent.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said:

“This warning from leading health economists is stark. The Government risks choosing a path that will cost lives, deepen inequalities and push adult social care even further towards the brink. For £1bn, the country is being offered a deal that delivers almost nothing in return, yet carries devastating consequences for the NHS, local authorities and the people who rely on care every day. There is a better choice. Investing in adult social care offers the highest return of any area of public spending. It saves lives, strengthens communities, boosts the economy and reduces pressure on the NHS. At a time when every pound must work harder than ever to grow the economy, the case for investing in social care could not be clearer. The Government must put people first and choose the option that delivers real value for the country.”

Care England has said it stands ready to work with Government, Parliament and the authors of the letter to ensure that decisions taken in the coming weeks are informed by the strongest available evidence and focused on what delivers the greatest benefit for the public.