'I can't see why it should take 3 years...perfectly feasible to set out plans by the end of this year'

THE current crisis facing the adult social care sector is nothing new. In fact, it is a 24-carat crisis decades in the making.

- GILES SHELDRICK Chief Reporter

The multitude of issues, failings and, most importantly, needs are well known. It perhaps explains why, in almost 30 years there have been two government commissions, one government- commissioned review, three independent commissions, five white papers and 14 parliamentary committee inquiries on social care reform. Yet no meaningful action.

It is often said the measure of a civilised society is how we treat our elderly, frail and vulnerable. By any metric, Britain has failed.