Warnings of 'bleak future' without social care reform

Politicians must unite to reform social care or face a "bleak future" where people suffer a loss of dignity in retirement, Health Secretary Andy Burnham warned today.

Advances in medical science and an ageing population are putting unsustainable pressures on the existing framework of social care, Mr Burnham said, and new measures are needed to tackle these demographic challenges.

The Health Secretary said politicians had "flinched from this for too long" and said he wanted to create "unstoppable momentum" for legislation on social care in the next Parliament.

Opening a Commons debate, Mr Burnham said: "The reason why I say we have to take this moment is because if we don't, we face a bleak future in this country where inadequate budgets are being stretched ever-more thinly around an ageing population and in the process providing less and less dignity and quality of life in retirement.

"It's not a very encouraging prospect, in fact it's a very depressing prospect. And that's why we have got to act."

The Government has put forward a Green Paper proposing the creation of a National Care Service, which Mr Burnham described as the "right and radical" answer to the problems.

Arguing that now was a "Beveridge moment", the Health Secretary said the plans would spread costs and risks more fairly, providing greater peace of mind for everybody.

It would seek to end the postcode lottery currently in existence and be anchored around prevention and early intervention.

And the long-term aim would be to ensure that people could spend longer in their own homes, rather than having to seek residential care.

Mr Burnham said those with the greatest needs currently pay most, services vary widely across the country, and what people spend is only "loosely linked" to their ability to pay.

"This is a cruel lottery, and the fact that people born after the war - the first real property-owning generation - will soon enter the care system only intensifies the need for change," the Health Secretary said.

"Because potentially we could see unfairness played out on a far greater scale over the next 20 or 30 years if we don't make changes."

Mr Burnham said there was still an "undercurrent of ageism" across the public services and this had to change.

Consultation on the Green Paper would continue until next month before specific plans were put forward in a White Paper next year.

For the Tories, Stephen O'Brien warned that an ageing population would stretch services to the limit unless reform was brought about.

He said the Prime Minister's promise of a "big debate" on the issue might sound good. "But what people are really looking for is decisive action."

Government plans for a national care service had been drawn up to give the document the appearance of weight but were devoid of practical detail.

Accusing ministers of a series of u-turns and "botched" announcements, he said the proposal would be more believable if it was costed and specific.

Mr O'Brien urged ministers to clarify whether attendance allowance was staying or being scrapped and pledged the Tories would oppose any plan to cut or redistribute the allowance.

He said the Conservatives' plan for a home protection scheme would guarantee any residential care needs for the elderly through a one-off payment of about £8,000 at 65.

State funded care would still be available for those on low incomes unable to meet the cost of the scheme.

Labour former minister Malcolm Wicks (Croydon N) said the treatment of carers in the Green Paper was "a bit feeble".

"It looks to me a bit like it has been added on. When I was civil servant in the Home Office many years ago it was what someone referred to me as 'joining up with a staple'.

"I would have liked to have seen carers more central to this analysis.

"These issues about how to provide care ... are ones that both the carer herself, the wider family have to take on board, as well as the cared-for."