Damian Green MP sets out plan to fix social care
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In a new report for the Centre for Policy
Studies, the Rt Hon Damian Green MP – who as First
Secretary of State commissioned the Government’s social care green
paper – puts forward a bold and comprehensive proposal to
secure the future of social care. ‘Fixing the Care Crisis’ argues
that the current system is financially and politically
unsustainable, opaque, unfair, and actively discourages local
councils from investing in...Request free trial
In a new report for
the Centre for Policy Studies, the Rt Hon Damian Green MP – who as
First Secretary of State commissioned the Government’s social
care green paper – puts forward a bold and
comprehensive proposal to secure the future of
social care. ‘Fixing the Care Crisis’ argues that the current system is financially and politically unsustainable, opaque, unfair, and actively discourages local councils from investing in social care and housing for older people. With the number of over-75s set to double from the current level of 5.3 million in the next 40 years, the need to address this problem is – as the King's Fund warned only days ago – moving from urgent to critical. The paper sets out that any reform of social care needs to:
The result of this is a sustainable system likely to be supported both in Westminster and beyond – not least because it protects councils from the soaring costs of care. It also fixes the warped incentives introduced by the reforms of the 1990s, which by handing councils responsibility for care costs led to new care home provision stagnating. ‘Fixing the Care Crisis’ demonstrates that the Care Supplement will be affordable and attractive to millions of those reaching retirement age, ensuring a steady flow of private wealth into the care home system. It also suggests a range of methods to fill the immediate funding gap in the social care system, estimated at approximately £2.75 billion. These include, in decreasing order of preference:
The Rt Hon Damian Green MP said: “The crisis in our social care system is one of the most pressing issues our country currently faces. It causes acute problems for the wider NHS, with 1.98 million delayed transfers in 2017/18 for those moving out of NHS care. The Conservative Party has an urgent need to show that it has ideas about vital domestic policy issues such as this. “That why I propose a wholesale change in our approach to social care, mirroring the state pension system with the introduction of a Universal Care Entitlement and Care Supplement. “By combining this new system with an increase in funding we will be able to tackle this most intractable of political dilemmas fairly and responsibly.” Robert Colvile, Director of the Centre for Policy Studies, said: “Social care has been an intractable issue because it is so hard to come up with a system that is fair to everyone. But Damian’s proposals would pass all the key tests – the system would be sustainable, there would be protection against the ‘dementia lottery’, no one would have to sell their own homes, everyone would have access a decent level of essential care, and those who paid in more would get access to extras such as bigger rooms or more frequent excursions. “This issue has been politically toxic, but we need a solution that commands consensus. I urge politicians from all parties to consider these proposals extremely carefully.” Dr Amanda Thompsell, Chair of the Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “..This report draws attention to the obvious and inconvenient truth that the current arrangements for social care are as well as being opaque and unfair (in particular for older people with dementia or indeed any long-term mental illness) are financially unsustainable. “…this report should be studied by anyone who cares about older people, and all those who expects themselves one day to become old.” John Slaughter, Chair of the Retirement Home Builders Group, said: “This report confirms the massive role that specially-designed retirement housing has to play in helping reduce people’s reliance on social care as they get older and the extent to which Government at a national and local level needs to increase the supply and mix of housing available for older people. “It correctly identifies the need for local housing targets specifically to serve the needs of older people and in calling for a new use-class for retirement housing this landmark report sets out how we can start to equip our housing stock for an ageing population.” ENDS For further information, or to book Centre for Policy Studies spokesmen, please contact the Centre for Policy Studies Press Office on 07876161196 or email emma.barr@cps.org.uk. Notes to Editors
“As an old age psychiatrist, I welcome a report that addresses seriously an issue that is central not just to our social care system but to also to our NHS. “Too often older people with mental health issues who could be discharged from hospital are forced to remain there just because there is no care home place or home care package available. “This causes distress for the person concerned, worry for family carers and frustration for NHS staff at the institutional and human cost involved. “This report draws attention to the obvious and inconvenient truth that the current arrangements for social care are as well as being opaque and unfair (in particular for older people with dementia or indeed any long-term mental illness) are financially unsustainable. “Nobody reading it could fail to see that this situation needs to be addressed urgently. “The report proposes new ideas for finding the money that the system so badly needs, in a way that can commend itself as being fair to all sectors of society and for all medical conditions and has a chance of transcending sectional interests and party lines. “It also proposes organisational changes that will allow a focus on improving the quality of care. It should be studied by anyone who cares about older people, and all those who expects themselves one day to become old.”
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