ePolitix.com speaks to Michelle Mitchell about the problems with social care in England.

Question: What is the current position on social term care in England?

Michelle Mitchell: Social care is a national disgrace. It's one of the chronic failings of social policy. We have heard warm words from government about how they appreciate the scale of the challenge, but so far we have yet to see any serious action.

Gordon Brown should allocate significant extra funds to provide decent care for older people, and he must commit to producing a green paper on how to solve the social care crisis.

If he doesn't, this failure to act will be a blot on the government's commitment to social justice and will mean increasing hardship, misery and suffering for growing numbers of older people, many of whom are vulnerable and disadvantaged.

How we treat older people is a litmus test for any civilised society, and we are falling scandalously short at the moment.

Question:  What is happening to people with low-level care needs?

Michelle Mitchell: The situation is getting worse. Local authorities are tightening their eligibility criteria. The Local Government Association has predicted that by 2009 no local authority will be providing services to those with low or moderate needs.

Increased charges and cuts in services mean that growing numbers of older people are left without the support and help they need with the basics of living  

Question:  What about people who need a lot of care, such as nursing care?

Michelle Mitchell: The quality of care is all too often poor. Low wages and inadequate training add to the problem.

We hear shocking stories of human rights being ignored and older people being treated in an undignified way.

Thousands are missing out on care that they’re entitled to. Age Concern estimates that three out of five of people eligible still miss out on care they are eligible for. Access to care varies depending on where you live.

Question: How will the new continuing care criteria recently announced by the government affect the system?

Michelle Mitchell: New criteria will improve the situation but 60,000 people will continue to miss out. The new guidelines aim to reduce the postcode lottery but we need to see a massive cultural shift within the primary care trusts, to ensure that those who are eligible get the care that is theirs.

Question: What needs to be done? Any final messages to the government?

Michelle Mitchell: We need a fundamental reform and an open national debate on the future of care and reforms to the system. We need a better quality care and must encourage better preventative care or help at home.

We are calling for green paper to be announced around the time of the comprehensive spending review. This will be a key test for the government to put action behind their words.