By Richard Johnstone | 14 March 2013
The public sector is ‘woefully underprepared’ for the impact of an ageing society and urgent government action is needed to avert a crisis in English health and social care services, peers warned today.
The Lords Committee on Public Service and Demographic Change said England’s rapidly ageing population would have a ‘huge impact’ on services over the next two decades. Between 2010 and 2030, it is estimated there will be a 50% increase in the number of those aged 65 and over, and the number of people living past 85 will double.
Although the report highlighted that longer life offers benefits for many, ‘big changes’ will be needed to employment rules and pensions, as well as care services, to ensure people sustain a good quality of life.
The cross-party committee said an ageing society would greatly increase the number of people with long-term health conditions, and health and social care would need a radically different model to support people. Current provision was failing and would be inappropriate for the growing number of older people with chronic health conditions, they added.
This meant there had to be ‘fundamental change’ in provision, including the complete integration of health and social care systems and funding.
Although this would require major reforms, the government’s current plans for social care failed to address the issue, the peers said. They include a cap on costs, but do not mandate integrated spending.
Peers say ministers must publish a white paper before the next general election, setting out how society should prepare for increased longevity across services including health and social care.
Ready for ageing? added that whichever party formed the next government should then establish two cross-party commissions to set out detailed policy responses to the ageing society.
Onewould analyse how to reform health and social care, and its funding, to serve the needs of an ageing population, while the other should work with employers and financial services providers to improve pensions. Both should report within 12 months.
Committee chair Labour peer Lord Filkin said the country was ‘not ready’ for the rapid ageing of our population.
‘The amazing gift of longer life is to be welcomed, but our society and politicians need to address the implications, and the changes needed to attitudes, policies and services so people are best able to benefit from it.
‘Health and social care need to be radically reformed; both are failing older people now. A big shift in services is essential so that the many more older people with long-term conditions can be well cared for and supported in their own homes and in the community and not needlessly end up in hospital. All health services and social care must be integrated to help achieve this.’
A white paper was needed before the election to set out how government will support people to plan for their own longevity, he added, as this was ‘not a distant issue’.
He added: ‘Our population is older now and will get more so over the next decade. The public are entitled to an honest conversation about the implications.’
Responding to the report, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health said plans to introduce a cap on care costs was part of ensuring people were supported in later life.
She added: ‘However, we cannot improve care and support by putting ever more money into the system. We have already seen examples of local authorities redesigning services to find more efficient ways of working. Many are innovating and achieving much greater integration between health and care services, thereby improving care for people and optimising use of resources available.’
The CBI agreed with peers that action was needed.
Head of public services reform Jim Bligh said integrating health and social care commissioning would help, but this would not achieve the necessary step change on its own.
‘Opening up the delivery of public services to independent providers would encourage greater innovation, leading to real cost savings and service improvements,’ he added.
