Blog posts by Dr. Emma Stone

Two weeks ago, an MP told me she had received 99 letters about forests and two letters about social care.

Today, the Care and Support Alliance – an impressive and broad-based alliance focused on common ground between users, carers, providers and commissioners – holds a Mass Lobby at Westminster with an online Twobby (via Twitter and Facebook). The purpose: to get MPs to acknowledge the current crisis in care and the urgent need for reform of funding, quality and provision.

'Truly appalling and truly shocking' is how Amanda Sherlock, Care Quality Commission's Director of Operations, has described the CQC findings on care for older people in 100 hospitals.

Few would disagree – even though there are good stories to be shared about the hospitals that do get this right (45 of the 100 hospitals were fully compliant with dignity and nutrition standards), and do have a culture of kindness and respect.

This autumn is a critical time to shape the future of care in England, as the government prepares its White Paper (promised for spring 2012) on the future and funding of adult social care.

We've had the Coalition Government's Vision for adult social care.

We've had the Dilnot Commission's report on paying for social care.

We've had the Law Commission's report on reforming adult social care law.

Now it is decision time.

Follow the Twitter debate: #Dilnot #socialcare #ukcare

The Dilnot Commission's report will be launched on Monday in the midst of public sector disputes on pensions, uncertainties about NHS reform, a flurry of care scandals, and continuing widespread confusion about what social care actually is, let alone who pays for it and how.