Social care review is 'slap in the face' for elderly - Lamb

5.01.12pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 29th Jan 2008

The Labour Government "have presided over a collapse of elderly services".

Walthamstow Liberal Democrats have joined parliamentary colleagues in criticising the Government's record on healthcare reform after another day of disaster

A new Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) report has today expressed concern at the rising numbers of elderly and disabled people denied social care at home. Local authorities across the country have argued that cuts have been forced upon them by the tight budgets caused by Government underfunding.

The report was released on the same day that the Government admitted it had broken its to promise to abolish mixed-sex wards in our hospitals, over a DECADE after pledging to do so in their 1997 manifesto.

Commenting on the Government's announcement of a review of the rules on eligibility in social care following today's report from Commission for Social Care Inspection, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said:

"This is a slap in the face for all the elderly people forced to wait until they are in desperately critical need before they get any help at home.

"This Government has presided over a collapse of elderly services. Ministers have responded to the chronic warnings of a looming crisis only with criminal under funding. Older people need more investment in services, not another review.

"Councils simply aren't able to provide social services fairly under the current system of funding. The Government should stop dithering and start fundamental reform now.

"Liberal Democrat proposals for a 'personal care payment' would ensure a fair deal for all elderly people who needed personal care and would put an end to the criminal injustice of poor access to social care."