Responding to a Health Foundation estimate that social care in England needs more than £8bn extra from the government just to meet growing demand over the next 10 years, Miriam Deakin, director of policy and strategy, NHS Providers, said:

"Social care can't be the poor relation of the NHS.

"Without reform to place the social care sector on a sustainable footing, knock-on problems for the whole health and care system will continue to pile up.

"NHS services need to work hand in hand with properly funded, staffed and supported social care to help people to remain independent with the right support at home, reduce avoidable admissions and help get people home or to a community setting when they are well enough to leave hospital.

"Just like the NHS, social care requires long-term solutions to ensure that it has enough staff and resources to meet growing demand for an ageing population with more complex needs.

"We must better value and support the vital role that social care staff and carers play."