Carers UK has joined an unprecedented group of leaders from local government, NHS and social care services, businesses and unions in an open letter calling on the Prime Minister to take urgent action to tackle a growing crisis in care for older and disabled people.

The letter, published in the Daily Mail, has been signed by 85 organisations representing people on the frontline of the care crisis - councillors, doctors, nurses, care workers, care and housing providers and charities. They warn that the social care system is in crisis; chronically under-funded and in urgent need of reform. Without urgent action, the letter warns, ‘too many older and disabled people will be left in desperate circumstances: struggling on alone, living in misery and fear.’

The signatories call on the Prime Minister to take leadership to help solve the crisis in social care by personally convening a care summit, and says that difficult decisions, particularly decisions on how to fund reform must be made now as ‘older and disabled people and their families cannot wait and will not accept delay or half-measures.’

The letter has been co-ordinated by the Care & Support Alliance, convened by Carers UK and representing the major charities representing older and disabled people and their families.

Download the letter to the Prime Minister.