Age Concern Response To “Let’s End The Sickness Service”

Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern, said: “We welcome today’s statement by Patricia Hewitt and Ruth Kelly. It is certainly a step in the right direction. Focusing on prevention, looking at the entire needs of older people and improved coordination between social services and the NHS is the only way forward for care.

“But this announcement is not the shake-up that the system needs – £8.9 million is just a drop in the ocean when PCTs have spent years withdrawing from community schemes and when local authorities are tightening criteria for access to care services.

“The challenge is for the Government to put its full weight behind preventative services. The Comprehensive Spending Review is the opportunity to put real money into the system to begin the process of a better and fairer long-term care system for older people. If simply cannot miss that opportunity.”