Homecare News & Parliament
Keir Starmer’s stance on the elderly is made clear in one decision. Martin Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Home Instead UK and Homecare Association Board Member, wrote an opinion piece for The Express, criticising Labour’s decision to delay a social care overhaul until 2028. The delay, through the announcement of an independent commission, is seen as another devastating blow to a sector urgently in need of reform. [Source – The Express].
Concerns flagged to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are going months without a response due to backlogs, MPs have been told. [Source – The Standard; Express and Star].
Around 500 draft inspection reports are “stuck” in the CQC’s IT system and cannot currently be retrieved, the organisation admitted. [Source – Health Service Journal (paywall)].
Social care reform delays are having serious consequences, with carers quitting and homes at risk of closure. Experts have warned that without urgent reform, providers could go out of business, and councils may need to ration support for the elderly and vulnerable. [Source – The i Paper].
By 2040, dementia is expected to become the third leading cause of death. Alzheimer’s Disease International has called for dementia to be treated as a non-communicable disease and integrated into global health frameworks. [Source – The Carer].
Parliamentary News
House of Commons – Health and Social Care: Winter Update
This week, Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, provided a statement on winter pressures. He commended health and social care staff for their remarkable efforts amid increased pressure from flu and respiratory illnesses.
The Secretary of State outlined several funding initiatives, including:
- Nearly £100 million to recruit 1,000 more GPs by April
- £889 million funding uplift for general practice
- £3.7 billion extra funding for local authorities providing social care
- Plans to deliver 7,800 home adaptations through the disabled facilities grant
- Increased carer’s allowance, the largest rise since the 1970s
The government aims to outline lessons learned from this winter and propose improvements for next year, with a commitment to ending “corridor care” in due time.
Prime Minister’s Questions
During PMQs, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey MP highlighted the NHS winter crisis, with 54,000 people waiting over 12 hours in A&E in December. He questioned the Prime Minister about addressing the social care crisis more urgently, proposing to scrap the three-year timetable for the Casey Commission and tackle social care this year.
Starmer agreed with Davey, accusing the previous government of neglecting the NHS. He noted that the current government is investing in and reforming the system, including addressing social care. Davey, however, expressed disappointment at the Prime Minister’s stance on social care.