Today’s ministers unveiled their ten-year vision for solving Britain’s social crisis. Campaigners, however, warned that the plan is not sufficient. Ex-health secretary Jeremy Hunt called it a disappointment.
Sajid Javid, Health Secretary, said that the plan “clearly lays down how we will make our system fairer to all”.
However, charity chiefs decried the offer. They claimed that the Government had made a ‘low-powered saloon vehicle’ and not the Formula One vehicle that was necessary’.
While ministers have today revealed their 10-year plan for solving the UK’s social care crisis, campaigners warn that it is too narrow.
Chairman of Health and Social Care Select Committee Jeremy Hunt stated that the plan was a disappointment considering the magnitude of the crisis in the social care system’
The Government is pressing ahead with an overhaul of the social care system which will include introducing a new £86,000 cap on costs.
It has already announced the creation of a new Health and Social Care Levy which will raise an extra £5.4billion in tax to provide a funding boost to the NHS and care sector.
Ministers this afternoon published a white paper which sets out how some of that money will be spent over the next three years.
Some £300million will be allocated to increase the range and amount of new supported housing.
The new service for practical repairs will allow people to get help with adapting their homes in order to live independently longer.
At least £150million will be spent on rolling out new technology to support independent living while £500million will be invested in training support for the 1.5million strong adult social care workforce.
Javid stated that the ten year vision clearly shows how the system will be fairer and more effective for everyone. This includes the many millions who receive care as well as those providing it.
‘We are investing in our country’s future – boosting support to help people live at home with their families for longer and ensuring that health and care work hand in hand so people get the help they need.’
But Labour’s shadow care minister Liz Kendall said the white paper ‘falls woefully short of the mark’ as she claimed the Government had failed to address the immediate pressures facing social care.
According to Mr Hunt (Tory chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee), the plan is a “disappointment considering the magnitude of the crisis in the social care system”.
He said: ‘Providing an additional £1.7billion in funding over three years falls far short of the annual £7billion sum that our evidence found would be necessary to fix social care.
Sajid Javid Health Secretary said, however that the plan clearly outlines how the system will be fairer to all.
Although the White Paper says it offers an “ambitious 10 year vision”, it fails to acknowledge the additional resource required to realize that vision. It is also not aware of the current crisis facing the sector.
Caroline Abrahams is the charity director for Age UK and the co-chairwoman of the Care and Support Alliance. She stated that the lack of investment will mean changes in this sector will be slow and incremental despite immediate needs.
She stated that the paper was not the Formula One car she needed, but a saloon car with a weak engine.