Radical Reshape of Health and Social Care

The Barker Commission’s report on the Future of Health and Social Care in England, published today http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29047190 

The report illustrates the problem many families face when a parent or grandparent starts to need daily support with their health and care needs.

The National Health Service has always split health care and social care, with health provided centrally by the NHS and social care funded locally by councils.

This split causes confusion for patients and carers alike, who often need to request help from multiple sources, the individual’s GP, a home care provider, the council, care agencies etc.  All this comes at a time when the family is coming to terms with the fragility or sickness of a loved one.

The Barker Commission makes a bold recommendation to combine health and social care together paid for through the public purse.  It’s plans will be controversial as they suggest that older people should pay for this via raises in National Insurance contributions for those over 40 and for those working after retirement age.  It also suggests removing some exemptions to prescriptions and a review of inheritance and CGT tax regimes for older and wealthier people.

Successive Governments have made attempts to integrate health and social care, the latest being the Care Act passed earlier this year. However this report goes much further, stating that changes to the current system will not be enough.  It is the system itself that needs to be changed.

Today’s publication by the King’s Fund serves as a stark reminder of the need to make provision for care in later life.  There is still much uncertainty over who, how and what care will be provided to those who need it and more importantly who will pick up the bill.  Read the full report here http://www.slideshare.net/fullscreen/kingsfund/summary-of-the-barker-commission-final-report/1

Care Planning Services can give practical advice on what entitlements you may expect under the system as it stands and ways for you and your family to make provision for your future health and care needs.