Let me first wish you all a Happy New Year.  I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you are all looking forward to the New Year.

You will be aware that amongst other attacks on pensioners by the current government, they decided that the cap on what individuals would pay for social care which was to capped in October 2025 was cancelled in favour of a Royal Commission to review the provision of care. Whilst most people just consider this as delaying the problem to a later date, the CSPA through Later Life ambitions have put together a submission to Adult Social Care Reform: The Cost of Inaction – House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee Inquiry – Submission by Later Life Ambitions.

This is their executive summary:

LLA’s response to this inquiry focuses on the human costs and benefits that are being missed as a result of continual inaction on social care reform.  We want people on later life to able to have ambitions for their futures and live fulfilling lives without societal obstacles and hinderances getting in their way. Our members reflect on the instability, uncertainty and quality of adult social care across the country and the ways in which this stops them living the lives they reasonably deserve to live.

LLA want to see a decent quality, sustainably funded, free at the point of delivery social care service operating in cooperation with the NHS.

We are calling for the Government to legislate without delay to establish this National Social Care Service, to be integrated with the NHS that remains free at the point of delivery.  The service was committed to by the Labour Party in its manifesto.

We are also calling for a minimum 10-year government spending commitment towards social care at the next Budget with a pledge to increase real-terms spending significantly across this period.

We need a comprehensive plan brought forward urgently to address the chronic workforce issues in the social care sector.  We want to see recognition for paid and unpaid carers through professional development, fair play and access to respite breaks and simplified carers benefits.

To better co-ordinate essential services for people in later life, including social care reform, we are calling for an Independent Commissioner for Older People and Ageing, as part of an overall strategy to tackle the challenges faced by older people now and in the future, and to offer those who need it, advocacy, and legal support.

After almost 2 decades of broken pledges and commitments on reform and ‘fixing’; social care, this has be the time for delivery.

I will be putting together a series of visits again this year to those areas where their Groups have closed to give you an opportunity if you want to speak to me in person and if there are no concerns then to come and have a drink with me.  I will be visiting during April and May and will be providing the dates in the next couple of months.

Speak to you all next month.

HARRY BRETT