On 29 September 2026, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced plans for a National Care Service in England. Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, he described it as “a landmark policy as significant as the creation of the NHS itself”.
If you’re caring for a loved one, arranging support for a parent or thinking about your own care in later life, you may be wondering what this means for you. Below, we explain what has been announced so far, what it could mean for care at home, and what is still to be decided.
How Would the National Care Service Work?
The plan is for social care to work in a similar way to the NHS. In the Prime Minister’s words, it would be a system where “everyone contributes and everyone is covered”.
At a glance, from what has been announced so far, the National Care Service would:
- Be free at the point of use, so you wouldn’t be charged at the time you need care.
- Mean no care charges are paid out of your basic state pension.
- Follow a similar model to Scotland, where personal care (such as help with washing and dressing) is free for adults who are assessed as needing it.
As reported by ITV News, the plans would cover personal care but not the accommodation costs of living in a care home. That would be in line with Scotland, where people living in care homes still pay their own accommodation and living costs.
The finer detail hasn’t been decided yet. However, an independent commission led by Baroness Louise Casey has been asked to report on how the service should work by the summer of 2027.
What Could It Mean for Care at Home?
Care at home sits at the centre of these plans. The Prime Minister described the National Care Service as “a person-centred, high-quality care service that starts in the home”.
In July 2026, Downing Street set out the principles the service would be built on. These include:
- Letting people move smoothly between hospital, home care and community services.
- Making prevention a priority, so people can live independently for longer.
- Putting people’s needs at the heart of the service.
- Making sure it is fully and sustainably funded.
For families, that means a clear focus on helping people stay well in their own homes, and on joining up care between hospital and home.
What Could It Mean for Care Workers?
The government has committed to “lifting up” the social care workforce and bringing it closer to the NHS, with better pay, clear routes for progression, training and job security.
Some of this work has already started, where the first Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care workers in England will set pay and terms and conditions across the sector. Negotiations are expected to begin in April 2027, and the first agreement is due to take effect in April 2028, with £500 million set aside for 2028–29.
How Would It Be Paid For?
The Prime Minister has mentioned that the National Care Service would be “fully funded, and not through borrowing”. The main funding change he set out relates to the state pension triple lock:
- The triple lock stays as it is for the rest of this Parliament.
- From April 2030, if Parliament approves it, the state pension would still rise every year by at least prices or 2.5%, and would hold its value relative to earnings over time.
- The savings would go towards funding the National Care Service.
When Could It Happen?
As mentioned by the PM, the National Care Service would be introduced in the next Parliament, which means after the next general election. With that in mind, some of the groundwork is already underway:
| When | What Happens |
| 29 July 2026 | The Prime Minister sets out his plans for social care and invites opposition party leaders to cross-party talks. |
| Summer 2026 | Baroness Casey’s commission launches the Big Conversation on Care to gather people’s views. |
| April 2027 | Fair Pay Agreement negotiations for care workers are expected to begin. |
| Summer 2027 | Baroness Casey’s commission is due to report on how the service should work. |
| April 2028 | The first Fair Pay Agreement for care workers is due to take effect. |
| April 2030 | Pension changes to help fund care would begin, subject to Parliament. |
| Next Parliament | The National Care Service would be introduced. |
What Hasn’t Changed?
Keep in mind that these are plans, not law, so nothing has changed yet in how care is assessed, arranged or paid for.
If you or a loved one need care now, the current system still applies, and your local council’s adult social care team is still the place to ask for a needs assessment.
Many details are still to be confirmed, including exactly which services will be free, how assessments will work and how the service will be run locally. We’ll share updates as Baroness Casey’s commission reports and the plans develop.
What About Wales?
The National Care Service announced by the Prime Minister is for England.
Social care in Wales is devolved, meaning it is run by the Welsh Government, which has set out its own plans for a National Care and Support Service. If you live in North Wales, these changes wouldn’t apply to you directly.
Nurse-Led Care at Home, Available Today
The National Care Service won’t arrive overnight, but you don’t have to wait for person-centred care at home.
At StellarCare NW, we’re a nurse-led, CQC-registered home care provider based in Ellesmere Port, caring for people across Cheshire and North Wales. Our care is overseen by our nursing team, and our approach is based on the Buurtzorg model, so there’s clinical expertise behind every care plan.
Our nurses keep a close eye on each client’s health and wellbeing, so we can act quickly if anything changes, whether that’s day-to-day support or helping someone settle back in at home after a hospital stay.
So if you’re thinking about care for yourself or a loved one, our friendly team is always happy to talk things through. Enquire today or explore our home care services.
FAQs
1. What is the National Care Service?
The National Care Service is a plan announced by Prime Minister Andy Burnham on 29 September 2026 to create an NHS-style social care system in England. Care would be free at the point of use, with no care charges paid out of the basic state pension.
2. When will the National Care Service start?
The Prime Minister said the National Care Service would be introduced in the next Parliament, after the next general election. An independent commission led by Baroness Louise Casey is due to report on how it should work by summer 2027.
3. Will social care be free under the National Care Service?
Under the plans, care would be free at the point of use, with no care charges paid out of the basic state pension. ITV News reported that this would cover personal care, such as help with washing and dressing. Full details are still to be confirmed.
4. Will I still have to pay for a care home?
ITV News reported that the plans would cover personal care but not the accommodation costs of living in a care home. This would be similar to Scotland, where personal care is free but people living in care homes still pay their own accommodation and living costs.
5. Does the National Care Service cover care at home?
Yes. The Prime Minister described it as a care service “that starts in the home”. The government’s stated principles include helping people live independently for longer and letting them move smoothly between hospital, home care and community services.
6. How will the National Care Service be paid for?
The PM has said it would be fully funded, not through borrowing. From April 2030, if Parliament approves, the state pension would rise by at least prices or 2.5% a year and hold its value against earnings, with the savings going towards care.
7. Does the National Care Service apply in Wales?
No. The National Care Service announced is for England. Social care in Wales is devolved and run by the Welsh Government, which has set out its own plans for a National Care and Support Service.
8. Will care workers be paid more?
The government has committed to bringing care workers closer to NHS standards on pay, progression and training. The first Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care workers in England is due to take effect in April 2028, with £500 million set aside for 2028–29.
9. Has anything changed for people who need care now?
No. The National Care Service is a plan, not law, so care is still assessed, arranged and paid for under the current system. Your local council’s adult social care team can carry out a needs assessment.
10. How can I arrange nurse-led home care in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire and North Wales?
StellarCare NW is a nurse-led, CQC-registered home care provider based in Ellesmere Port, caring for people across Cheshire and North Wales. Our friendly team is happy to talk through care for yourself or a loved one, with no obligation.