U.K. Government Launchs Six Month Debate About the Future Shape of Care And Support Services
May 12, 2008
U.K. Health Secretary Alan Johnson today launched an intense six month debate about the future shape of care and support services. A rapidly ageing population means that in 20 years’ time a quarter of the entire adult population will be over 65 and the number of people over 85 will have doubled.
The growth in the number of people with care and support needs will put tremendous pressure both on services and on the financial support that they receive through benefits and other funding streams.
Over the next six months, the government will be asking the public and stakeholders at a series of regional events for their views about care and support to create a new system that:
* Promotes independence, choice and control for everyone who uses the care and support system
* Ensures everyone can receive the high quality care and support they need, and that government support should be targeted at those most in need
* Is affordable for government, individuals and families in the long-term.
Millions of people across the country are involved with providing and using care and support services. This reform is about finding a new way to help people stay active, care for family members, retain maximum dignity and respect and have the best possible quality of life.
Alan Johnson said:
“Society is going through huge change - care and support must adapt to meet the challenges this will bring because the current system is simply not sustainable in the long term. There is no option of a quick fix. Radical change is needed to bring together the range of activities, services and relationship that underpin care and support so that people are clear about what they are entitled to and how and where they can get it.
“Funding is a vital part of this debate, but it is not just about money. It is also a question of individual choice, enabling people to live as independently as possible for as long as possible.
“Today we are rolling out a £31million program to test the potential of innovative technologies like telecare in supporting care for those with complex health and social care needs. Improving care with new scientific advances and innovation is vital if the NHS is to continue to offer the very best services, but this innovation must be at the frontline of the NHS to help people manage their conditions better themselves.”
The public will be able to contribute to the debate through a series of events and through a new national website http://www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk
Today also marks the beginning of the £31 million Whole System Demonstrator Programme that will test the potential of innovative technologies like Telecare and Telehealth in supporting care for those with complex health and social care needs.
The pilot is being rolled out across Kent, Cornwall and Newham where people with complex health and social care needs such as diabetes, heart and chest problems and the elderly and the frail will use the technology.
Clients can also trigger requests for help should they fall and automated safety devices will be installed to ensure people are able to live at home for longer.
The program aims to give people the support necessary to help them retain their independence in the community and greatly improve their quality of life by managing their conditions in their own homes.
Benefits of the scheme are expected to be reduced emergency admissions, reduced use of the acute hospital sector and reduced dependence on care home settings. If successful, then savings generated by reduced admissions could potentially more than offset the cost of the initial investment in the technology.
Source: Department of Health
My Mother went into a care home three years ago. My Father was still alive and owned their house. He contributed £30 a week until he died and the house was sold. My Mother now pays all the fees from her inheritance and when that runs out her children will have to pay the contribution (top -up). Which has now doubled. All her children including myself have their own family financial responsibilites and we are going to find it difficult. We are all earning and paying our taxes.
It is those who have never owned their own house and lived on benefits that are laughing!! We are the ones that are struggling!!!
I welcome the debate on the cost of social care and the demands being made on those costs and would like to be part of that discussion.
One of the most important problems we come across is the lack of uniformity in the delivery of services. People in one county are treated poorly compared to people in another county. Government has allowed this to happen and must do something to bring about a level playing field for ALL people who have a disability.
County councils are allowed to “invent” their own regulations even though government regulations exist. An example of this are the “guidance” that all LAs apply to the use of Direct Payments that are nothing like the guidance government have issued. Again, government allow this, if people are not aware of government guidance then they loose out on service delivery by their LA.
As a suggestion, I would approach the problem of the cost of social care by applying the same principal that government are applying to Individual Budgets.
This principal tells the person how much money they have to spend on care after an assessment.
So why not not start by government telling us how much money there is to spend on social care then decide how that money will be spent.
In order for this to be successful it will require all parties to be honest, fair and that people with disabilities and carers are involved from the beginning. Bringing those groups in after some decisions have been made will not be accepted and the trust of those people will be lost.
As a member of the National Task Force for people with disabilities, I have seen this practice at work, where the agenda has been set before the meeting takes place and we have little say in deciding that agenda. If something is added to the agenda from the floor it does not have time for debate in order to do it justice.
So let us all bite the bullet and see if we can get some fairness into the delivery of social care, by adopting this stance I am sure people will be more willing to settle for a little bit less than their present expectations.
Les Scaife
West Lancs Peer Support Ltd
Allied Business Centre
Potter Place
Skelmersdale
Lancashire WN8-9PH
Tel: 01695-556554
les@peersupport.info
http://www.lancs-pa.org
The case for change in your opinion is inhumane for the most vulnerable people of our so called PEOPLES PARTY, (sorry you have change your title to THE NEW LABOUR PARTY). Would you tell me when you retiled yourselves, did you see yourselves as the second coming of the THACHER years?
I keep asking for the personal experiences the politicans have ever had looking after a parent, or elderly relative who needs their help when they have soiled their
clothing? I am still waiting for them to answer this question?
Independance, dignity, respect, personlisation, seem to be the titiles being stamped on our elderly and disabled citizens. Once this happens they can be push to the side and forgotten about.(e.g. being bullied in school, if one was to try to invole the police, they would ask the school what action they where taking about the situation. As long as the police are satisfied no legal action can be taken. My point is the ASSULT has been given another titile so the powers that be can justife thier failure to protect the innocent).
The private sector must be rubbing their hands with glee, and who can blame them. The Government have given Local Adult Social Services the green light to abandon our most vulnerable citizens to privatisation. And make them pay even more money for the new tecnology, that we are to beleive will keep them safe in their own homes.(Shame on you Labour Party and all your so called experts)
Labour Party start getting rid of some of your Cheifs,let the Indians put common sence back into the care of our most vulnable citerzns.Stop blaming us for living too long, your party has put us in this unaccecpable situation, and now you think you can privatise us. I will fight for the rights of the population you are blaming for YOUR mistakes.
You are putting money before qulatiy of life, if as you say we are so short of money, why did you go on American TV and give our money away? I don’t recall you donating our money to CHILDREN IN NEED or did I miss that part of the program? Mr Brown you may be in power, but you had no rigth to give away money you keep telling us we haven’t got to look after our own people.
Stop the takers taking all the time, the less one contibutes to socity the more human rights thay have. The honest people of our nation are left to fend for themselves, because they will be less likly to shout about their lack of human rights, and you know this to be true.
I live in WIRRAL our local newspaper keeps us up to date about what the Adult Social Services are up to. Girtrell Court is run by the Local Council, this is a HOME for disabled people who need 24/7 care. Yet our so called caring ADULT SOCIAL SERVICES have told the reidents that if “significant investment” cannot be found the home will close in five years time. This news has devestated the residents,their families and staff. The RESIDENTS may even be moved to other areas outside Wirral. WHERE IS THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS, DIGNITY AND RESPECT. How can anyone with a concience, treat others as they would not want to be treated themselves? ONCE AGAIN MONEY IS BEING PUT BEFORE, THE CARE AND PEACE OF MIND OF GIRTRELL COURT RESIDENTS.
Wirral Adult Social Services, keep blameing the lack of money, for their abanbament of our elderly and disabled people. But they could find the money to open thier new Reform Unit employing 12 people. This is disgraceful and blantant disrespect to the people of Wirral, who have to suffer to give these overinflated egos, overinflated salaries.