The King's Fund Inquiry into Care Services for Older People in London was established to find out whether the care system operating in 2004 was meeting the needs and preferences of older Londoners who require care and whether there will be sufficient care services of the right design and quality to meet the needs of older people in London in 20 years. The key finding from the Inquiry is that there are major shortcomings in the current system which disadvantage older people and their carers. They experience: restricted access to care and practical support; limited choice and control over care services; being put at risk from untrained and unqualified staff; and hardship caused by inadequate funding and controversy about who pays for long term care. The Inquiry calls for: investment in market development; reform of social policies; and mobilisation of more public and private resources for the care of older people.