Shake-up in support for elderly ‘a critical step’ for social care

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told MPs the Health and Social Care Bill announced in last week’s Queen’s Speech will form just one part of a wider “plan for older people”, as concerns grow over the country’s ability to cope with a rapidly ageing population.

Mr Hunt said the way hospitals are set up to support frail and elderly people in emergencies, particularly those with dementia, would be examined, along with the role of GPs in supporting vulnerable people.

He promised to “restore confidence” in an out-of-hours service which was “badly damaged” under the previous Labour Government, and to break down the barriers between different arms of the care system.

He said: “This will require a great deal of careful work, asking some difficult questions and making some tough decisions.

“But if it leads to more personal care, more integrated and more compassionate care, then it stands alongside the Care Bill as an important step forward in reforming the care received by millions of people.”

The Health and Social Care Bill itself will enshrine in law the Government’s wide-ranging hospital reforms in the wake of the Mid-Staffordshire scandal, as well as overhauling the funding of social care by introducing a £70,000 cap on the amount any person has to spend on their care bills.

But Labour described the cap as a “mirage”, warning that cuts to council budgets meant social care charges are now soaring.

Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said: “It’s a cruel con trick, isn’t it?

“They’re basically lowering extra charges on people, but then say there is a cap you might benefit from in a number of years.

“How is it fair to pay for that cap by raiding council support? It doesn’t make sense.”