The pandemic has exposed how dependent on care we are not only as individuals, but as a society. But our care system, already struggling well before the outbreak of the coronavirus, has failed to cope. Care work is poorly-paid and insecure, whilst the entire system suffers from chronic underfunding. Government promises to fix the system have concentrated only on funding, which is important, but falls well short of a comprehensive plan for care.
This new essay from PEF Council member Susan Himmelweit puts today’s crisis in its border context. A new approach is needed, recognising the immense importance of care to our economy and society, with care work properly supported in all its forms, effective support from the public sector, and an integration of the care system into our wider social and physical infrastructure.
