Some of the latest headlines relate to whether the pre Christmas boost of an extra £240 million for Social Care followed by the Health and Communities Secretary permitting local authorities to raise an extra 3% per annum for Social Care via Council Tax is the solution.
Most people accept that at best the pre Christmas announcements are nothing more than a short term fix. Regretfully however, it might not even be that. This is because the announcement allowing local authorities to raise extra cash via Council tax is predicated on one assumption and which is that Councils will do precisely that. The evidence which is starting to appear is that because in 2017 many larger local authorities are subject to elections there is a reluctance to take advantage of the opportunity to raise council tax for the purpose permitted. This of course is not surprising given that the wrath of the voter could be incurred.
What of the governments so called extra cash of £240 million. The truth of the matter is that this likewise is not a solution but rather a slight of hand. This is because it is not new money but instead cash taken from the budget for building new homes, an area which itself is under particular pressure because of the difficulties our young people have in getting on the housing ladder.
Clearly it is easy to criticise without coming up with workable alternative solutions. The truth of the matter is that nobody knows how to deal with an ever increasing aging population and the demands they create without raising taxation and which no political party wants to do because of a fear of a backlash from the voter at the ballot box.
As stated in my blog dated the 15th December solutions that will solve the problem are rarer than “hen’s teeth” and some result in the problem with social care dictating policy in other parts of the economy. In other words the “tail wagging the dog”. Some mooted remedies for the “million dollar question” were as follows:
Replace the proposed reduction in Corporation tax with cash to fund the social care problem.
Remove the triple lock on state pensions and remove some pensioner benefits for the better off.
As in Germany, France and Japan introduce mandatory long term health insurance.
Unify the NHS and Social Care budgets to make the system more efficient.
Create a care ISA to encourage people to save for their long term care.
Regarding paragraph 4 above, it is not possible to implement a solution whereby a single ring-fenced budget for the NHS and Social care without there also being an increase in public funding. As we all know, an increase in funding can only be achieved in one of two ways or a combination of both namely increased taxation and/or taking money earmarked for other budgets such as Housing, Transport or Education. It is difficult to see the politicians being brave enough to go this route?
Additionally and as stated again in earlier blogs it is not all to do with funding. Much of the problem is with the quality of the care being provided. Many care homes fail the so called “Mum test” whilst hospitals are guilty of discharging many elderly patients in the middle of the night. There is then the awful problem of abuse. The list could go on.
Clearly there is a long way to go and a lot of media coverage before this issue is resolved, if ever!!
No matter the shambles it is still vital that the existing system is understood. It is the need to understand what the system can and cannot provide, combined with the need to be persistent and to get advice early that is key.
The above is an overview only.
 |
| Andrew Dougas Partner |
For a FREE appointment and to find out
answers to the questions that need answering
and to get the care you or a loved one need
email Andrew Douglas and his team or
simply call on 0800 072 8636.
Alternatively visit our website www. abdcare.co.uk
--------------------------
