Japanese-style health MOTS could transform social care in England

New report claims it would likely lead to a better quality of life

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JAPANESE-STYLE health MOTs for people when they turn 65 could help transform adult social care in England, a new report has suggested.

The move to a preventative approach would likely lead to a better quality of life for older adults and potentially fewer care home admissions, the Institute For Public Policy Research (IPPR) said.

The think tank has set out a plan to stop the “spiralling costs” of adult social care, referring to a bill of £23.3 billion for local authorities in 2023/24.

Its findings are supported by Sir Andrew Dilnot, the architect of reform recommendations more than a decade ago, who said the 'yawning and indefensible gap in our collective welfare provision' must be addressed urgently.

The state of adult social care in England is under review by the Casey Commission, which aims to set out a plan for how to implement a national care service, as promised by Labour in its election manifesto.

The first phase of the review is expected to report next year, although recommendations from the initial probe will be implemented in phases over the course of 10 years.