Expect radical social care reforms, says Hope

15 Jun 09
The forthcoming green paper on social care in England presents a chance to radically rethink the whole system, according to Phil Hope, the minister responsible.

By David Williams

The forthcoming green paper on social care in England presents a chance to radically rethink the whole system, according to Phil Hope, the minister responsible.

The forthcoming green paper on social care in England presents a chance to radically rethink the whole system, according to Phil Hope, the minister responsible.

At a conference hosted by the Local Government Association, the social care minister said: ‘There is a once in a generation opportunity for re-imagining the whole system, similar to the point where we were in the 1940s.’

Hope said the long-awaited green paper, due later this year, would be based on the principle of care driven by individual needs, with service users given more say through an enhanced direct payments system.

The minister also wants fairer provision for elderly people who have saved money throughout their lives and are often denied care under the current means-testing system.

He said the reformed system must also further develop partnerships with private and third sector organisations.

All three major parties were represented at the debate, which took place on March 10. However, despite agreeing in principle on some policy areas, they are far from ready to collaborate on reform.

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb proposed a cross-party consensus on social care, similar to that achieved by Lord (Adair) Turner’s pensions commission.

But this call was ignored by Hope and swiftly rejected by Conservative shadow health minister Stephen O’Brien.

Lamb described the current means-testing system as ‘pernicious’ in penalising savers. He also said care packages should be mobile, allowing those in need to transfer them across the country if they chose.

The option of more self-determination would work only alongside universal access to advocacy and support, he added.

Lamb argued for increased integration of social care and NHS budgets.

He said: ‘It’s bizarre that we’ve increased spending in care and support services dramatically less than the sickness end of services.

If you invest in prevention services, you save money further down the line.’

O’Brien warned that the recession meant there would be no new money for care services, and that the reallocation of NHS resources into social care had to be part of the debate.

He argued for a joint NHS-social care budget for long-term care needs, and also claimed that better financial management in Whitehall would translate into a more efficient care service.

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