Health Foundation response to Rishi Sunak comments on care workers

Commenting on Rishi Sunak's comments on care workers on the Laura Kuenssberg programme this morning, Hugh Alderwick, Director of Policy at the Health Foundation, said:

‘Social care workers – who are mostly women – play a vital role in society but are among the lowest paid workers in the UK, and experience shocking levels of poverty and deprivation. Many cannot afford enough food, shelter, clothing and other essentials, putting their health at risk.

‘We analysed data from 2017-2020 and found that over a quarter of residential care workers in the UK live in or on the brink of poverty. Around 1 in 10 experiences food insecurity. And around 1 in 8 children of residential care workers is materially deprived.

‘This reflects political choices. Sustained underfunding of social care has contributed to unacceptable pay and conditions for staff and major workforce shortages. If government values people using and providing social care, it must act to tackle low pay and insecure employment conditions in the sector.’

Media contact

Ash Singleton
sh.singleton@health.org.uk