Social Care reform Lib Dem priority (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

Social Care reform Lib Dem priority

May 12, 2008 5:06 PM

Cllr Sue Galloway, Executive Member for Adult Social Services, today welcomed Gordon Brown's commitment to reform social care in England. However she fears this reform could be too little to late, and will do nothing to help those individuals who are suffering now.

She said, "It takes a long time to get new systems into place and new initiatives will need to be worked up with partners in both the public and private sectors."

"The Government is forecasting that the care system in England faces a £6bn shortfall within 20 years. Personally I think that figure is on the conservative side as we have estimated that we will need another £10 million in York each year by 2020 if we are to sustain services at their current level. York is one of the few Councils which still provide care services for those with a moderate need whilst more than 70% of Councils restrict their services to those with a substantial or critical need."

"The advent of Telecare, on which we have spent a quarter of a million pounds here in York, has seen great strides forward in meeting the demands of residents to remain in their own homes, but this should not be the only option. Residents need to be given a menu of options, including movement from large family homes to smaller, suitably adapted homes which have a care element and which may be available for rent."

The Liberal Democrats' proposal for reforming social care is a Personal Care Payment to end the poverty afflicted on many elderly people, forced to pay for their personal care entirely out of their own pockets. The Personal Care Payment would be based on need, not on ability to pay.