Parties ‘guilty of conspiracy of silence’ over social care
CAMPAIGNERS yesterday accused the Tories and Labour of a “conspiracy of silence” over the social care crisis ahead of the next election.
They claim both parties have failed to stick to previous promises to tackle the issue.
The Silver Voices campaign group for the over-60s said the current system was unfair, leaving many people without help.
Dennis Reed, group director, wants the issue to become an important factor in the General Election campaign.
Mr Reed said patients suffering cancer receive full free care over their lifetimes through the NHS, but those living with dementia are defined as receiving social care and have to pay.
Many have to sell their family homes to pay for residential care, he said.
Mr Reed added: “Labour and the Conservatives are not going to get away with their conspiracy of silence over the future funding of social care. In particular, the plight of hundreds of thousands of mainly older people with dementia being forced to use up all their life savings and then sell the family home to pay the astronomical costs of residential care.
“Both parties have previously promised to solve the dementia conundrum and Silver Voices will hold them to it in the general election campaign.”
Downing Street said the Government was committed to fixing social care.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “We have previously set out our plans on social care – investing in the workforce, additional funding for local authorities. The commitment remains as previously stated.”
Asked if any new plans were coming forward, he added: “We’ve previously set out the work in this area.
“Recruiting and training the workforce was a key part of our workforce plan that the Chancellor, the Health Secretary and the Prime Minister set up not long ago.”
Labour is planning only limited first-term reforms of social care as part of its manifesto and will not seek to legislate on the creation of a new national care service.
However, its plans for an overhaul of social care will be presented as a longer-term mission taking at least 10 years.