‘Shaming’ level of misery caused by UK social care uncovered by major survey

‘We’ve somehow not managed to make social care a big enough priority,’ says economist Andrew Dilnot. Photograph: Alamy

Dissatisfaction at social care services among those who have had to deal with them has spiralled to “unbelievably distressing” levels, according to Britain’s most comprehensive study of the public’s experiences.

Two-thirds of people who have used or had contact with social care – for themselves or someone else – were dissatisfied, an analysis of the British Social Attitudes survey has revealed.