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Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats:Covering the constituencies of Twickenham and Richmond Park |
Paul Burstow MP writes: Social care’s little secret – it’s never been free
July 3, 2011 12:13 PM
• [Jul 02] Paul Burstow* writes: NONE of us know if we will need care in the future, or how much it might cost. But we do know that 1 in 4 of us will face care costs of more than £50,000. What's more, 1 in 10 will be unlucky enough to face care costs of more than £100,000 in our older age. This is social care's nasty little secret.
. . Last July we set Andrew Dilnot and his fellow commissioners the challenge of answering the question: 'how do we strike a fair balance between individual's responsibility and the State in funding care and support?' One year later and we are very shortly about to receive his [blunt] answer: . . reform comes with a price tag.
There is no magic solution that can shield people from catastrophic costs, instantly reward thrift and make a rotten system fair. This week a survey conducted by the housing and care charity Anchor of 2,000 adults across Britain, found that 44% believed the government "should cover all social care costs for older people". It's easy to forget that without personal experience many people won't know the kind of catastrophic costs that can be racked up through social care. But many people also won't know that social care isn't free. Never has been, and never will be. So when you hear all three parties saying that the ship has sailed on a wholly tax funded social care, the truth is that the ship never really even left the dock.
We must therefore make sure that people don't look at the Dilnot plan through rose tinted glasses by comparing his plans with the fantasy of free care . .
Don't expect next week to hear the Government's final word on social care. The Dilnot report will mark an important milestone on the road to reform, but there are other questions and more milestones to come. There will inevitably be challenges on the way, but I firmly believe that by working together, we can finally begin the process of turning the page on social care reform.
* Minister of State (Care Services), Health and MP for Sutton and Cheam
• Paul Burstow MP writes: Social care's little secret - it's never been free [LD Voice Jul 02]
• The Independent View: Social care and the Dilnot Commission [Ruthe Isden LD Voice Jul 3]
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