Evidence on Andy Burnham's National Care Service proposals

DaisyAnneReturns

David49

This care reform is to be decided by the end of this year, so far it seems that all estates will pay an IHT "Care Supplement", there will of course be thresholds at the top and bottom that will be decided later. Only 4% of estates paying IHTis not acceptable far too much is going to families of the deceased

The concept that everyone pays something gets my backing and will raise a lot of revenue to have a decent care service

That sounds like something to work on doesn't it. I don't know if we will get anything concrete on Monday but hopefully they will fill out with some facts fairly quickly.

It's just going to be generalized aims until September when parliament returns, then a Budget to make the changes so really it's all speculation until November.

So far I agree with much of what has been said by Burnham and I hope his own MPs dont torpedo him

Unlike NHS Healthcare- the majority of social care is currently delivered by private providers (LemonJam).

I wonder if this is the crux of the matter. I'm no socialist but the NHS, although underfunded and in need of updating, works. I think we may need to work out way to take Care back into national ownership. It's going to be interesting to see where the new PM sits on this.

Burnham inviting the other parties to tackle the care service.

I think it is really the only way forward, but I’m afraid that he won’t have the support of Badenoch or Farage.

When my partners mum was in and out of hospital ten years ago the main problem was having no interim care for her between hospital and home which resulted in bed blocking all the time. If only we still had convalescence homes.

A suggestion for cross party working on this issue is intelligent and I agree the only way forward. The electorate can see which parties choose not to engage and make of that what they will….,

As a recently new user of social care for my DH I am becoming terrified by the system we have. He has 4 carers a day to help with changing needs (he is mostly doing well but it's taken six month and he still can't walk unaided and even with a rollator his speed is about 100 yards an hour. 20 yards and he needs a 2-hr rest before trying again. It takes me an hour to get him out of or into bed. One overnight visit to hospital after a dizzy attack and it set his mobility back by six weeks cos they just left him in bed.

The four half-hour care visits a day will cost us nearly £60k in a year and he has no illness that we are aware that is likely to cause death in the near future.

It definitely needs addressing.

We have some physiotherapy support which to us is vital in improving his mobiility but visits are sporadic as the team is grossly overworked.

We are fast losing heart and depression is rapidly setting in for him. For me, I am utterly exhausted (I am almost 75 and have my own health issues) as I do all other caring - washing, dressing, toiletting, significant extra chores and am lucky if I get 5 hours sleep a night - often broken.

I am sure we are not alone in our circumstances.

Madmeg

As a recently new user of social care for my DH I am becoming terrified by the system we have. He has 4 carers a day to help with changing needs (he is mostly doing well but it's taken six month and he still can't walk unaided and even with a rollator his speed is about 100 yards an hour. 20 yards and he needs a 2-hr rest before trying again. It takes me an hour to get him out of or into bed. One overnight visit to hospital after a dizzy attack and it set his mobility back by six weeks cos they just left him in bed.

The four half-hour care visits a day will cost us nearly £60k in a year and he has no illness that we are aware that is likely to cause death in the near future.

It definitely needs addressing.

We have some physiotherapy support which to us is vital in improving his mobiility but visits are sporadic as the team is grossly overworked.

We are fast losing heart and depression is rapidly setting in for him. For me, I am utterly exhausted (I am almost 75 and have my own health issues) as I do all other caring - washing, dressing, toiletting, significant extra chores and am lucky if I get 5 hours sleep a night - often broken.

I am sure we are not alone in our circumstances.

You’re definitely not alone! Your story is pretty much a carbon copy of ours except we got rid of carers after two weeks as they were hopeless and more of a hindrance. I hope things improve for you Madmeg and I really do sympathise.

NHS Physio is so hopeless that we now pay £110 an hour to see a private physio. We requested it after his second stroke 2 months ago and have been told the waiting list runs into many months. Speech therapy is the same. The district nurse service is hit and miss ….. that’s if you can get to speak to someone on the phone. The whole care service needs a complete overhaul but not sure he’s the man to get it done.

Whitewavemark2

Burnham inviting the other parties to tackle the care service.

I think it is really the only way forward, but I’m afraid that he won’t have the support of Badenoch or Farage.

Some might consider that a blessing.

Madmeg Mon 27-Jul-26 21:06:20 I do hope you've applied for Attendance Allowance.

We are all, nationally, will be expected to pay, somehow, for this, and I agree is is so needed, but I understand that Wales, Scotland, and possibly N Ireland may not benefit as it is may only be implemented in England.

Stand out sentence for me from Burnham’s speech this morning this morning.

I’m paraphrasing.

“Our social care can be seen as exactly like the American health system. Some people loose everything that they’ve worked for when having to enter the care system”

I had never thought of that comparison, but I think he is absolutely spot on.

Burnham also talking of the excessive prophets by private industry.

I can certainly agree with that. Having worked in special education (back in the day) I was always appalled at the level of funding the private providers demanded.

Burham also said this morning it's 30 years since the last Commission on social care- and 20+ reviews since then- and politicians of his party have let down the public as a result. He's right when he says "We can't kick this down the road any longer. We have to find common ground and listen to others. to find a way forward. It's time to draw the line under people playing politics when the human cost of that means care is struggling, families paying the price and the NHS buckling under the strain".

Burnham also said "I'm not going to be deflected by the point scoring or the screaming headlines that comes out of point scoring. The is what has set back social care. And I come back to this point about the political future of this country and the media culture of this country. If we're trying to shut down the fact that you have a serious debate about an issue like this, if thats what you're trying to do, well, its shame on all of us if we say 'well I'm not brave enough then to go into it. Well I'm just not going to do that in my time in office...I would never forgive myself. Who knows how long I will be in this position, but as long as I am, I will do my best to find a solution".

This is long overdue. Ed Davey is engaging and I read Kemi has other engagements today but is sending health secretary Stuart Andrew instead. That's really good.

Not politicians of his 'party' - politicians of his age- sorry AB

Just listening to comments.

Burnham has a huge majority, and if he can take the Libs with him, he has nothing to stop him getting the legislation through, and even if it is really unpopular with the Tories, we will never get the same opportunity, and once implemented, it will not be undone.

This must be done before the next election.

I’m really looking forward to see this happening.
We have evidence of endless unfulfilled proposals on this matter from various governments from various sources including

www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/long-reads/health-care-manifesto-pledges-election-2024

(I haven’t gone further back that MT.)

If cross-party action can be achieved and achieve what is proposed it will be amazing.

Too evasive about financial details.

Burham's only just over a week in the job! Impossible to present all financial details at this stage.

I would expect financial ideas and proposals to be discussed in the cross party group. In that way there is at least a chance to work towards cross party consensus..... or at least find out sticking points or alternative suggestions of each party willing to engage.

As Burham said he's trying to find common ground at this early stage...trying to have a "serious debate"

Inspiring lunchtime appearances on Beeb news in that I believe he really does care and is really going to try.

Far, far too early to get those details, easybee. Taxes need to go up, clearly, targeting those who can afford it, and I include myself with a very ordinary lifestyle in this.

One day I will need care as will we all own here and some of us cannot afford private or even top ups.

It has to be done. We will all, if we can, have to chip in.

You will never have an NHSCS until you can use the same NHS number on all social care records and correspondence. There hasn't been found a way to do this in the past, but that would have to be factored in.

Yes we do need a national care service to match the national health service but the poor old NHS isn't in great shape either.
I'd read a suggestion for Burnham that might help: do away with inheritance tax but just tax every estate 10% to be paid into a care fund. Some estates will be huge so will contribute a lot. Others may amount to little or nothing. Implementing this should greatly simplify the situation and could eventually lead to a decent sized pot to pay for national social care.
However, just as with NHS there will always be people who want to 'go private'. Their choice and at their expense

Around one is three people end up in a care home. The vast majority of care homes are privately owned and cost around £80k annually on average, depending on locality and quality. Care homes in my area can easily cost £2k a week. The costs can mount up evidently.

A care levy on death is one option- there are other funding options- all options no doubt to be discussed in cross party group.

It's good an all party group will be working together.

Haven’t they always worked together in eg select committees?