The UK is 'woefully underprepared' for the challenges of an ageing population, according to a House of Lords committee. The cross-party group warned that without significant reforms to pensions, healthcare and employment practices, the 'gift of longer life' could lead to a series of crises in public services.
Citing figures from the Office for National Statistics, the committee highlighted a projected 50% increase in the number of over-65s and a doubling of over-85s between 2010 and 2030. 'As a country we are not ready for the rapid ageing of our population,' said Labour peer Lord Filkin, who chairs the committee. He called for an 'honest conversation' about the implications.
The committee recommended a 'radically different model' of care to support people in their homes and relieve pressure on the NHS, as the number of individuals with long-term conditions rises. It urged the government to set out its strategy before the next election and for all parties to address public spending implications in their manifestos.
Baroness Greengross, chief executive of the International Longevity Centre UK, described the report as a 'wake-up call', adding that 'our society is in denial of the inevitability of ageing'. She argued for higher state pension ages and longer working lives as healthy life expectancy changes.
The Department of Health responded by highlighting a £7.2 billion investment over four years to protect care and support, and the introduction of a cap on care fees. Labour's Liz Kendall welcomed the report's call for 'radical reform' of the NHS and social care, emphasising integration and prevention.
