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The Daily Echo Thursday 18 February 2010
It is a real pity that the debate on the long term funding of adult social care needs has degenerated into so much unpleasantness and more heat than light has been generated by the tone of the public "debate".
There is one thing all politicians agree on; that an increasing proportion of the population is elderly and living longer with a range of complex health needs. This comes at a cost and as a diminishing proportion of the population is working and paying taxes to pay for services there is an urgent need to rethink how we are going to pay for the services which people will require in the future.
The government recently produced a Green paper with a number of options for consultation. There were some controversial proposals such as a review of some of the benefits but the whole point of a green paper is to put forward ideas, consult and gauge public opinion.
A green paper is usually followed by a white paper which will give a clearer idea about the direction of government thinking. However, the Government has claimed all along that it is desirable to come to an all party consensus so it is a shame that the behind the scenes talks have broken down.
I have always been a supporter of free personal care for the elderly but have reluctantly had to admit that this is not sustainable in the long term and the public would probably not accept the tax rises necessary to pay for it. My party supports a partnership model in which everyone receives a minimum entitlement but has to top up. However, if people invest for their old age then matched funding will be made available.
The Conservatives want people to pay (voluntarily) a one off payment of £8,000 to cover care costs but analysts say that there is a big hole in these plans. Labour have announced a policy of free personal care at home for those in most need but critics have claimed that there are perverse incentives in these rushed plans which have been introduced before the white paper is published. I wonder why!
The whole thing is a complete mess and I, for one, think this is such an important issue that all parties should try and work towards a consensus.
But this is not just about how we fund nursing homes. We need a wider debate about what we should provide to help people live good quality lives in their own homes and we can no longer afford to take carers for granted.
And we need to think about who pays and when. It is about time that politicians and the public faced the harsh realities and work together to devise a system which is fair and sustainable.
Published with the kind permission of the Daily Echo
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