The Department of Health and Social Care reported on 21 September 2026 that thousands of households across England were to begin receiving letters that day inviting people aged 18 and over to register interest in a public panel on care. The panel formed part of the Big Conversation on Care, run by the independent commission on adult social care chaired by Baroness Louise Casey of Blackstock.

According to the plan, around 125 people were ultimately to be selected by lottery from those who registered, with the final panel chosen to broadly reflect the population of England. Letters were to go to randomly selected addresses, and no more than one person was to be selected per household. Registration was to close on Sunday 11 October 2026.

The panel was planned to meet in person over several weekends between November 2026 and April 2027 in Birmingham and London, plus shorter online sessions. Organisers said no prior experience of adult social care was needed. The panel was to consider questions including what care is, who should receive it and who should pay for what.