CAMERON'S STATEMENT ON CARE FUNDING A 'WELCOME ADDITION' TO THE DEBATE

18 April 2008

Right care Right deal, a campaign calling for a new settlement for social care in England, today responded to David Cameron's comments on the future of care funding in the UK.

While launching the Conservative Party's local election campaign in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, David Cameron said: “I think what we can do is look at schemes like they have in American states where you say to people during their lives ‘look, if you put a bit aside to pay for maybe the first year, or year and a half, or two years of residential care, and if you do that the state will guarantee that’s all you have to pay for ... It’s like a partnership scheme. If we did that then we’d be able to say to people if you do that you will not need to sell your house to pay for residential care."

 Paul Cann, spokesperson for the Right care Right deal campaign, said:

"Social care is in crisis. 50 per cent of those who qualify for help don't get it, because councils cannot afford to help anyone not in dire need.

"We cannot underestimate the importance of fixing what many experience as a broken system - unfit for the future and unable to deliver the quality of care they deserve.  Some of the most vulnerable people in our society are being let down and forced to fend for themselves.

"The present system of funding is not fit for purpose. We need a long-term solution for long-term care.

"It's good to hear the Conservatives talking about partnership schemes for funding long term care. After years in the wilderness, social care is firmly back on the political agenda. 
 
"Right care Right deal believe the Wanless model of funding, whereby the costs of long-term care are shared between the government and the individual, is the best way to achieve a fair and sustainable system that can deliver into the future.
 
"2008 poses a unique opportunity to strike a new deal for social care, with the much anticipated Green Paper on the funding of adult social care expected later this year. We must be brave enough to put every aspect of our current system under the microscope. There must be a national debate, including not only politicians and policy makers, but care users themselves.
 
"The current system is failing badly and so must be transformed into one that is personalised, easy to understand and accessible - with a fair and sustainable funding settlement."