The unsuccessful privatisation of social care: why it matters and how to curb it

Adult social care is rarely out of the headlines. It is underfunded; it is damaging the NHS through delayed hospital discharges or failing to reduce emergency admissions; it is financially crippling for users; care workers are being sold short; there are serious concerns about the quality of care; and providers say they are about to go bust. But oddly, writes Bob Hudson, these debates rage without any mention of one key feature of the care sector in England: provision is almost entirely privatised.