英国新任首相安迪·伯纳姆上周就职后首次接受BBC采访，宣布将优先推进长期被忽视的社会护理系统改革。[1] 伯纳姆表示："无论我拥有什么政治资本，我都将投入到修复破损的社会护理系统中。"[1] 他警告称，若不采取行动，"NHS将在试图照顾那些本不需要进入NHS系统的人的重压下崩溃"。[1]
伯纳姆承诺在下次选举前进行重大改革，但未给出具体的实施时间表。[1] 他表示改革范围将超越社会护理，还包括对残疾人和患病人士的福利制度审查。[1] 伯纳姆的这一承诺与其个人经历密切相关——其父亲患有阿尔茨海默病，需要专业护理照顾。[1] 根据伯纳姆的说法，社会护理体系每年为NHS节省数十亿英镑。[1]
Andy Burnham, who became Prime Minister last week, has committed to prioritizing reform of Britain's long-neglected social care system, warning that without action the NHS risks collapse under unsustainable pressure.[1] In his first BBC interview since taking office, Burnham stated: "Whatever political capital I have, I will put into fixing broken social care."[1] He explained that without intervention, "the NHS will collapse under the weight of trying to care for people who've not really needed to end up in the NHS system."[1] Social care services currently save the NHS billions of pounds annually, yet the system has remained largely unaddressed by previous governments.[1]
Burnham's commitment to reform carries particular resonance given his personal circumstances—his father suffers from Alzheimer's disease and requires care support.[1] The Prime Minister has pledged to implement significant changes before the next election, though he did not provide a specific timeline for the overhaul.[1] Beyond social care, Burnham indicated his administration would pursue broader welfare system reforms, including a review of support for disabled and ill individuals.[1]