Will politicians kill off the ‘dream’ of a National Care Service?
Will politicians kill off the ‘dream’ of a National Care Service?
By Paul and Jennifer Roberts
www.caringforyourbusiness.co.uk
The creation of a National Care Service is at the heart of the Government’s plans to reform care for the elderly in England.
But with this major innovation up to five years away, can the ‘dream’ really be turned into reality?
Can it survive the worst recession for more than 70 years – or will it be a political ‘victim’ with a General Election due in the next 12 months?
The new green paper – Shaping the Future of Care Together – is the first major attempt by any Government to tackle the care crisis facing our ageing population.
The plan for a National Care Service – with high quality ‘joined-up’ services as the benchmark – is a truly bold vision for the future.
The ‘Big Care Debate’ now underway – a public consultation period ending on November 13, 2009 – offers the first genuine chance to discuss the way forward.
But the timing of the publication of the green paper poses a real threat to the emergence of a National Care Service.
A white paper – containing detailed proposals after the consultations – is not due to be published until 2010. We don’t yet know which month.
A General Election will almost certainly be called in the same year and many bookies have stopped taking bets on the Conservatives winning power.
How would they treat Labour’s proposals for social care reform? Would they put them on the back-burner or consign them to oblivion?
The Conservatives have been quick to dismiss the green paper as ‘just another document, long on options and short on costs’.
But they have yet to unveil their plans for reform and there are fears that a National Care Service could be a victim of Tory government cutbacks.
The least we should expect is a concise and detailed examination and appraisal of the green paper by the Tories and other political parties.
The public need to know what elements – if any – of the document they support and what changes – if any – they would seek to bring about.
Negative comments are easy to make in the absence of a realistic alternative.
We deserve a meaningful ‘Big Care Debate’, not one blighted by dismissive overtones and uncertainty.
Paul and Jennifer Roberts
www.caringforyourbusiness.co.uk
Roberts Consultants, specialists in developing care businesses
March 1st, 2010 at 2:59 am
I’m going to bookmark this post.
March 2nd, 2010 at 5:52 am
I’m going to bookmark this post.