Wes Streeting is wrong to frame social care as a burden on the NHS , writes Dr Melanie Henwood. Plus letters from Dr Marion Witton and Mike Smith.

The announcement of a new commission on social care has been met with an audible sigh from commentators, family carers and people needing care and support (Ministers plan biggest shake-up of adult social care in England for decades, 3 January). We’ve all been here before, built up expectations of reform and dared to hope things would change, only to face disappointment through the inaction of successive governments. There is little to inspire confidence that this time will be different. But could it be?

The appointment of Louise Casey to chair the commission is to be welcomed – she has a track record of cutting through the weeds and delivering unequivocal conclusions and recommendations. But it’s a massive challenge given the repeated failures of past commissions and policy endeavour. The timetable for the commission is confused and poorly communicated – an interim report within a year and a final report in three is simply too long and suggests a lack of political urgency.