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Charities, unions and campaigners have sent a joint statement to the government urging it to give people in England, Northern Ireland and Wales free access to personal and nursing care.

As part of the Right to Care campaign, the agencies signed a joint statement calling on the government to give all citizens in the UK equal access to free personal and nursing care.

Organisations that signed the statement were Age Concern, Alzheimer’s Society, Arthritis Society, Counsel and Care, Help the Aged, Leonard Cheshire, Mencap, NHS Consultants Association, NHS Support Federation, Radar, Royal College of Nursing and Unison.

Paul Evans, director of independent pressure group NHS Support Federation, said: "Seventy-five per cent of the public are in favour of free nursing and personal care. People believe that our society can and should look after its most vulnerable citizens."

Free personal care for people aged 65 was introduced in Scotland this week.