Social Care Reform and help got the elderly

There is no plan for the economy or growth. There is no plan for resolving the immigration crisis - legal and illegal. There is no plan for the NHS. There is no plan for social care. There is no plan for funding the Armed Forces. Just what DID Labour brain power come up with whilst waiting in the wings for 14 years?

I wish these commissioned reports were time limited. Say 18 months max. Focus minds. Ready for action people! The report will be ready just as a next GE is due …. Then it’ll be ‘you have to vote for us so we can implement these changes blah de blah”.

Cynical, me?

Boz

You are right, Oreo. It must come down to high taxation to run a good welfare state but can you imagine the kickback that will come from the younger generation who will surely resent paying?
A young Swedish woman I met was bitter and voluble on having to subsidise the Swedish State by paying very high taxes.

I can't see the British public taking on what would be an altruistic approach to taxation. They never have

They did post war. Grabbed it with both hands.

It only needs constant information and publicity to convince peoplE of the arguments and what the alternatives might look like.

You are right, Oreo. It must come down to high taxation to run a good welfare state but can you imagine the kickback that will come from the younger generation who will surely resent paying?
A young Swedish woman I met was bitter and voluble on having to subsidise the Swedish State by paying very high taxes.

I can't see the British public taking on what would be an altruistic approach to taxation. They never have

Oreo

Casdon

The funding model is what the Commission is to determine Monica. Regardless of which government we have, surely that nettle has to be grasped?

That’s the second time you’ve said ‘the nettle needs to be grasped’ which is a phrase beloved of politicians usually when they have no intention whatsoever in grasping it.
A commission is just another way of putting things off for years, in this case four years.After that there will no doubt be some sort of think tank set up to discuss the findings.Either Labour will be re-elected or another government will be the ones to also fail to grasp it.
I thought this new government were going to tackle ‘ the big issues’ as they constantly talked about it but have the sinking feeling that tinkering around the edges and blethering about black holes is all they will do.

I’m impressed that you read my posts so closely Oreo, thank you. To clarify, there has been no suggestion that additional funding won’t be put into the Social Care system in the interim before the commission decides what the future funding model will be, already proven by the additional funding announced today. The commission is about the model for the future.

If Labour had announced a future funding model today, with no involvement of the other parties, there is no way it would have been a long term solution. Previous governments of all hues have delayed and delayed, at least now there is going to be an all party process to decide what the model will be. How people can’t see that as a positive I don’t understand.

I don't think they are shoving it into the long grass.

Just shoving more money into a complex failing system isn't the right answer. It sounds like they are looking into a possible overhaul including funding.

I'd certainly like to see whatever measures possible before 2028 but I think they are wise not to promise instant oven ready magical measures.

If there were some, they would have been taken by the last government, or specific measures in the labour Manifesto I am sure.

I work in the care sector Boz and have done for a number of years.A lot of us enjoy and are proud of what we do and the pay isn’t all that bad either.Being a shift worker has its benefits and there’s always some overtime to be had.
You’re right tho that the money has to be found for social care and in the end will have to come from working age people in the form of higher taxes.I’m so disappointed with Labour for putting off reforms for social care both by promising no higher taxes before they were elected, a stupid and cynical ploy in my view and now a commission to look at at this problem which in itself will take years .

Its all to do with money; the lack of it. Where is the money to come from to pay for all this? How do you persuade people to work in the care sector for low pay because it cannot sustain high wages. Long life and care is a burden on a State that dares not put taxes up to the required level for fear of losing votes.

Seems like the long grass to me. After 14 years in Opposition surely Labour had thinking time to plan improved social care. It's pretty obviously a device to put off spending big money on a failing system.

Hmm.

travelsafar

Re bed blocking in hospital. A friend was recently in hospital for a few days with chest infection. On the day he was discharged he sat on the chair beside his bed all day until almost teatime waiting to go home. This was due to waiting for medications from the hospital pharmacy. The bed was not being used by anyone but until he left couldn't be allocated to anyone. Multiply that going on in hospitals all over the country.....what a waste!!!!!

I could never understand, when I worked in the NHS, why a comfortable allocated waiting room near pharmacy couldn't have been used.. it seemed that everyone being discharged had to wait for their medication..

Could do with some of Streeting’s hot air here this morning. It's freezing.🥶

Casdon

The funding model is what the Commission is to determine Monica. Regardless of which government we have, surely that nettle has to be grasped?

That’s the second time you’ve said ‘the nettle needs to be grasped’ which is a phrase beloved of politicians usually when they have no intention whatsoever in grasping it.
A commission is just another way of putting things off for years, in this case four years.After that there will no doubt be some sort of think tank set up to discuss the findings.Either Labour will be re-elected or another government will be the ones to also fail to grasp it.
I thought this new government were going to tackle ‘ the big issues’ as they constantly talked about it but have the sinking feeling that tinkering around the edges and blethering about black holes is all they will do.

Overview

In Europe, social care is primarily funded through a mix of government taxation, compulsory contributory health insurance schemes, and sometimes individual contributions, with the specific details varying across countries, but generally relying heavily on public funding through social security systems; the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) also plays a role in supporting social care initiatives across member states

Private insurance to cover care home costs is available, but it is extremely expensive.
30 years ago we looked into such insurance after my FIL died and we could see that in the future MIL might need care, although quite well at the time. The premium then was £18000, with quite a few exclusions. Goodness knows what it would be now.
She wouldn’t take it out despite being able to afford it, she was very independent minded!

However way you look at it we have to agree that it will need funding by us.

Nothing is free.

“Another review?” said Himself. “We all know it’s broken!”.
He’s very disappointed in Wes Streeting.
“All mouth and no trousers then”.

David49

A commission is just a way of delaying having to implement changes, what is needed is more funding. Social care is already means tested, how is an insurance based system going to be better for those that don’t have insurance.

Which ever way it is dressed up more money needs to be found to fund a better care system.

It will take more money David but it's not clear what changes need to be implemented overall, I don't agree this is a case of delaying on a clear set of proposals.

A commission is just a way of delaying having to implement changes, what is needed is more funding. Social care is already means tested, how is an insurance based system going to be better for those that don’t have insurance.

Which ever way it is dressed up more money needs to be found to fund a better care system.

I've a feeling many would agree if the think about it Lathyrus3.

Not only would it stop the worry about unknown future costs but it would lead, hopefully, to quicker hospital treatment. I'd like to think it would lead to more preventative and early social prescribing too.

I’d welcome some kind of insurance scheme. Even now, on my pension, I’d prefer to pay a monthly amount knowing that quality care would be there if I needed it.

At the moment I’m afraid to spend money in case I need it in the future and find myself doing calculations about how many weeks I could afford before the savings and the house sale ran out.

travelsafar

Re bed blocking in hospital. A friend was recently in hospital for a few days with chest infection. On the day he was discharged he sat on the chair beside his bed all day until almost teatime waiting to go home. This was due to waiting for medications from the hospital pharmacy. The bed was not being used by anyone but until he left couldn't be allocated to anyone. Multiply that going on in hospitals all over the country.....what a waste!!!!!

That is very bad practice. My DH had a similar experience waiting for medication from the morning when he was told he could come home until about 4pm, however there was a discharge waiting room. It was his birthday too and we only had time with him from around 5pm.

The only way I can see them adequately funding a proper care system is by continuing NI into post state-pension years.

What other insurance, with a medical/care element, would sell itself on the basis that as you get into your most expensive years, you can stop paying and have all your medical care free, but that care has to be paid for by you if in any way it can be designated "social" care?

Yes thats been the case for a long time, the pharmacy wait.

I'm glad the government is putting money into it in the short term not waiting for the results of the enquiry.

I don't understand enough about the funding suggestions to comment but really glad they have a cross party approach making a start.

Re bed blocking in hospital. A friend was recently in hospital for a few days with chest infection. On the day he was discharged he sat on the chair beside his bed all day until almost teatime waiting to go home. This was due to waiting for medications from the hospital pharmacy. The bed was not being used by anyone but until he left couldn't be allocated to anyone. Multiply that going on in hospitals all over the country.....what a waste!!!!!