Mike Hall MP

Labour Party | Weaver Vale

Extra £520 million to transform care for older and disabled people

18 December 2007

Labour’s Health Secretary Alan Johnson has announced an extra £520 million to transform Social Care over the next three years through the introduction of Personal Care budgets.

Mike Hall MP said:-

"I think that support for individuals and families when they need it, is of vital importance. Everyone, irrespective of their illness or disability has the right to maximum control over their own lives."

Key elements of the proposals  include:-

- Giving the vast majority of people who receive funded care their own personal budgets so they can choose the support services they want for themselves of a family member.

- High quality care homes, home care and day services to be rewarded, with poor performers who fail to respect people's dignity no longer used by local councils and the NHS.

- Initiatives such as first-stop shops becoming common place so that everyone, including people who don't have support from social services, will have access to advice and advocacy about community services.

- Investing in support that keeps older people healthy and tackles loneliness and isolation

- Closer collaboration between the NHS and local government so that people receive more coordinated and efficient support in the community.

Mike Hall also said:-

"These proposals for personal budgets will allow all those who would benefit from a personal budget to receive one, putting real control into the hands of those in care and their carers, leading to far more personal and responsive care."