Since coming into power in July, Burnham has signalled his intention that social care will be among his leading priorities.
Burnham began his term in office by promising to accelerate the Casey Commission review timetable by bringing forward its final report forward from 2028 to summer 2027.
At the Labour Party Conference in September, Burnham promised a National Care Service free at the point of need, paid for by changes to the triple lock pensions system, will be put to the public at the next General Election.
Dr Hilda Hayo, chief executive and Chief Admiral Nurse of Dementia UK said the PM's first days had brought ‘welcome ambition and momentum to social care reform' and ‘given hope to families'.
Dr Hayo said the challenge now was to ‘turn that ambition into action'.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, also welcomed Burnham's expressions of commitment and intent on social care but cautioned: ‘The proof of this pudding will undoubtedly be in the eating.'
The Local Government Association (LGA) agreed with the need for a new care settlement with a focus on the social care workforce.
The LGA also welcomed the Government's commitment to learn the lessons of the Covid Inquiry on social care.
NHS takes a back seat
With social care, the PM's firm priority the NHS has taken a back seat.
There have been growing concerns over a sense of drift with the Government largely silent on meeting the elective waiting time target set out by Sir Keir Starmer.
The overall waiting list rose for the fourth time in five months in August, while The Health Foundation predicted the Government will fall well short of its elective care target.
Meanwhile, doubts have grown on how much of the Health Bill will remain intact as the pledge to abolish the HSSIB was scrapped.
The Government's target of NHS abolition by April 2027 looks increasingly challenging.
David Williams, deputy director of policy at The NHS Alliance, said the central objectives of the Health Bill - streamlining national NHS structures and creating a single patient record – ‘remain sound' but added the shape of future national leadership arrangements and the NHS operating model remained unclear.
Williams said a reset for the recovery plan for elective care would be needed.
He noted the administration's initial focus on maternity care with the Milburn review and cross-Government strategy set to put mental health centre stage.
Further dark clouds for the NHS, meanwhile, have gathered with this week's announcement of strike action by consultants.
As he marks his first 100 days, the PM can take great credit for clearly setting out his stall on tackling social care reform, however, his commitment to the radical NHS reforms embarked upon by his predecessor remain very much open to question.
