The last few weeks have been fascinating for anyone interested in politics. Given the polls, not many people were predicting the final election result, but the events of the coming days and weeks – not least the Queen's Speech and the upcoming Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review – should start to answer questions we have around the plans for health and social care in this country.

In my role as a local councillor, I have seen first-hand the demand for social care services grow and as the population ages this will continue to be the case.