Miliband plan for integrated health and social care

Labour will today unveil plans for a full integration of health and social care services.

Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham and Labour leader Ed Miliband will expand on plans raised earlier this year to bring health and care services under a single umbrella.

Mr Burnham acknowledged yesterday an increased budget would be unlikely but suggested a new way of thinking could bring better results.

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He told the Sky News Murnaghan programme: “We believe in the century of the ageing society, it is time to bring social care together with physical and mental health care. That is new thinking that is coming from the Labour Party, that is about doing more with the money we currently put into the care system in England.

“I want to look at that £100bn NHS budget, the £20 or so billion we spend on adult social care. I’m saying if I brought those budgets together in one single service, could I get better results for people?

“I think I could.”

Mr Burnham said he feared “privatisation by the back door” under the Government contract and insisted Labour would “protect” the NHS.

“Hospitals are under intense pressure, corners are being cut, and I am worried for the NHS in the current moment.

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“The NHS will always be a top priority for Labour, that goes without saying. But I can’t plan for the future looking for new money to just be handed over. Of course, it will be protected, but I’ve got to plan for the basis we need to get more for the money we currently put in.”

Last month, the Lords committee on demographic change issued the latest in a long line of warnings that action is needed to address the UK’s over-stretched care system which is failing the ageing population.

It said the number of pensioners across England was expected to rise by 50 per cent between 2010 and 2030, while the number of people over 80 will double – demographic changes it warned would have “profound effects” on the nation.

Its report identified 10 ‘hot-spots’ across the country including Selby, in North Yorkshire.