Tory MP calls for social care to be centrally funded along lines of NHS

A Tory MP has urged ministers to consider “centralised funding” of social care in a similar system to the NHS.

Huw Merriman made the call as he highlighted the situation in his East Sussex constituency, where large numbers of people spend their retirement.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said the proposal would be looked at in a green paper on the future of adult social care, which the Government is due to publish next summer.

Bexhill and Battle MP Mr Merriman (pictured) said: “East Sussex County Council has made £110 million in savings.

“It has allocated its reserves, it does not have a great business rate yield, and we have many constituents from this House that will retire in East Sussex.

“Can I ask the Secretary of State if it’s time to look at the social care model along the lines of the NHS, and look at centralised funding.”

Mr Javid praised the work of East Sussex Council around social care, adding: “It is a great place to retire so it does lead to changing demographics, and that is exactly one of the things that will be certainly looked at by the green paper, which we will publish in the summer of next year.”

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