Care and dementia charities respond to Queen’s Speech

There has been more response to yesterday’s Queen’s Speech and the announcement of the England only, draft care and support bill.

The draft bill would lay out how government would modernise the care and support for older people and disabled people. It would ensure local authorities fitted their services around people’s needs, simplify laws around social care and improve how people access the information and support they are entitled to.

UKHA, The United Kingdom Homecare Association is the professional association for more than 2,100 domiciliary care providers in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. They are concerned the “draft social care bill will tinker at the edges, without adequate funding.”

UKHCA chief executive Bridget Warr said: “The limited information we have on the draft bill so far from the Department of Health suggests it will make local authorities fit their services around the needs, outcomes and experience of people, rather than expect them to adapt to what is offered locally, and continue the drive towards choice and control through personal budgets.

“Clearly continuing the push for personalisation is good, but will the proposals recognise the imperative to ensure providers can deliver flexible, sustainable and personalised services? Will the new flexibility for local authorities ensure adequate resourcing to encourage investment and innovation in services, so that people have real choice of service and approach?”

“Better information is very important and welcome, provided it is accurate, fair and impartial and universally accessible. “It is disappointing that there once again appears to be an emphasis on health, but if it delivers greater joining up of social care and health services, that’s good.

“And, of course, this is very well, but without appropriate funding, now and in the future, it will be tinkering at the edges…..”

Jane Ashcroft, chief executive officer of the registered charity, Anchor that runs 99 UK care homes an extensive range of housing and support services said: “Anchor research found one in four are unaware that care is means-tested yet the current broken system means many people face an almost limitless drain on their savings.”

“A failure to reform the system now would be nothing less than a betrayal of the public. The older people of today and tomorrow deserve better than the current shambolic funding system and we call on Mr Cameron to act.”

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Society has also commented: “The draft bill suggests real progress can be made. But we still have no definitive timeframe for when the millions of people being put at risk by the current crumbling system will get the fair deal they desperately need. Consultation is important but it can’t become a delay tactic. Action is needed now to support the most vulnerable in society.

“Underfunding of social crisis must be at the heart of reform yet this still isn’t being addressed. Millions of people – including people with dementia – are being stripped of their savings. We are also in danger of bankrupting the NHS as more people reach crisis point. There is no time to wait.”