Independent Age response to the Health Select Committee’s Report on Social Care

Wednesday, 08 February 2012

Director of Policy, Simon Bottery, said:

“The Health Committee has confirmed a fact that is clear to everyone except the government - not enough money is going into social care and this is leading to worse services, increased demand for the NHS and poorer quality of life for older people. While it is true that the government has allocated further cash for local authorities, this is not getting through to social care and a further cash injection is desperately needed.

We are also pleased that the Committee has added its voice to the overwhelming call for implementation of the Dilnot Commission’s recommendations on social care funding. There is now a wide consensus that the government needs to accept the Commission’s proposals for reform of our failed social care funding system in its promised report in April.

We strongly support the Committee’s call for greater integration of social care with health and housing. We agree with the recommendation for creation of a single commissioning process for older people’s health services locally, and development nationally of a common set of outcome targets for older people’s social care, health and housing.

However we think these actions, while positive, need to be combined with a cultural shift if the behaviour of staff working in these fields is to change. In particular, we think that more action is needed to ensure that housing, especially for homeowners, is not left behind in any future integration of health and social care.”