This is off the back of a review published last year that said the amount of money spent on care should be capped, but that this would cost an extra £1.7bn every year.

The Nuffield Trust has said this money would be located by either raiding the NHS surplus or limiting access to the winter fuel allowance benefit.

They did however question whether this was entirely appropriate in the current economic climate, and if it was introduced, it should be targeted at the elderly.

Funding is proving to be the most controversial element of changes to care in the UK, as the ageing population causes the cost of care to rise to a total of £3.6bn by 2026.

Anita Charlesworth, author of the report, said we need to have an open debate about the public’s priorities.

"The government currently spends some £140bn a year on older people. If you were starting with a blank sheet of paper is this the best balance of spending to ensure quality of life, dignity and respect in older age?" she added.

Of the £140bn that Ms Charlesworth cites, it’s estimated that only 6% of that is spent on social care for the elderly.

A Government White Paper is due on the issue next month.