Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has said social care reform could be further delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Hancock (pictured) told the daily coronavirus briefing yesterday that it would not be “straightforward” to meet the Prime Minister’s target of getting the long-awaited reforms under way this year.
He said: “Well, the time frame has been clear, which is that we have got to get these reforms done in this Parliament and the Prime Minister has previously said we will get them set out this year.
“That was before coronavirus – we will still try to do that but it is not straightforward.”
Boris Johnson said he had a clear plan to fix the social care crisis in his first speech after becoming PM in December 2019.
Hopes for much-needed reform have subsequently faded, however, after he admitted in January that it could take five years to implement them.
Nadra Ahmed OBE, executive chairman of the National Care Association, told CHP: “This can only be seen as more dither and delay, sadly. The opportunity to push reform forward at a time when social care has been on the frontline of supporting some of those most affected by the pandemic is once again being used as an excuse not to address this critical issue. The way this government continues to let down the frail and the elderly population of this country is unbelievable.
“We will continue to lobby for those who aren’t being heard. This delay may well have grave consequences which could be avoided especially at a time when it could be used to create a sustainable sector which could work with and support the NHS of the future.”
Professor Martin Green OBE, chief executive of Care England, added: “We have waited 22 years for successive governments to reform social care and the COVID-19 crisis shows the urgency of delivering a long-term sustainable funding solution. Social care and the NHS are interdependent systems and there has been unprecedented investment into the NHS, and this needs to be mirrored by the investment in social care.”
Many organisations, industries and professions are looking for bailouts to survive due to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), but Social Care has been in need of money for Social Care to survive for many years, 22 years according to Professor Martin Green OBE, chief executive of Care England. I feel this is, at least, so, but may be even longer for I have been involved with Social Care for over 40 years and it has always been short of funding.
The health service, (NHS), during this period has received, according to Professor Martin Greem OBE, who says, ‘Social care and the NHS are interdependent systems and there has been unprecedented investment into the NHS, and this needs to be mirrored by the investment in social care’
This, again, I agree with.
Social Care, in many aspects, has been failing for many years, as persons in need of care can confirm. I, as a Family Carer for my adult daughter can certainly confirm.
In fact, currently and for many years Social Care has been in crisis and only in 2015 a funding package was agreed by the then Prime Minister, David Cameron and Chancellor of the Exchequer, but instead of implementing it was agreed to delay the implementation until April 2020. But, again, April 2020 as come and gone and Yes, this Government was, supposedly concentrating of COVID-19 and they now appear to state, well the Secretary of State, Matt Hancock as stated it could be delayed further due to COVID-19.
I state, that this should no be so, for with Social Care being in crisis for many years, it and the persons in need of care should not be made to limp along with Social Care being insufficiently funded and it is an extremely urgent requirement that the substantial funding be implemented immediately.
You may say, can the UK afford it, well can the UK not afford to not implement the urgently required funding. If this was any other area, as we have seen, the funding would be made available, but this Social Care is needed by disabled people and others who are vulnerable and as it as been for years this Government and many previous Governments, appear not to care for disabled people and other wh are vulnerable, as it appears they are classed as expendable.
This can not be allowed and it should have not been so, many times before for disable people and others so are vulnerable are not expendable and they have as much right to care as any others within the UK.
It is a National disgrace that the disable and vulnerable are being treated this way, not just in Care Homes, but also with regards to Home Care, Hospices, supported living, etc.
My petition ‘Solve the crisis in Social Care’and the additional information highlights this and the petition, disable people and other vulnerable persons need your support.. So, please sign the petition, https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/solve-the-crisis-in-social-care
With further information https://1drv.ms/w/s!Aq2MsYduiazgnjzVUnu4dsyHKk4u?e=0ySCxW
Thank you