Our conclusions on today's Health Select Committee
Report on public expenditure:
Time to acknowledge the elephant in the room (he's been
here a while).
By Anna Passingham, Policy and Research Manager
Lansley and Burstow's current stance of sticking their heads in
the sand when faced with the reality of the social care crisis just
won't wash any more.
Despite the Health Secretary dismissing the report as
'Westminster nonsense', the Health Select Committee's findings are
backed up by robust evidence from the National Audit Office, ADASS
and the Care Quality Commission. Stephen Dorrell MP, as chair of
the Select Committee, and one of Lansley's predecessors, poses the
challenge for local authorities and the Government: what can be
done to provide a meaningful service until the new system can be
put in place?
Good practice shows that where more integration between councils
and NHS is already happening, such as reablement services, with
more pooled resources and aligned budgets across housing, health
and care, it can encourage better quality of care and experience
for people using services, while also making savings. However, it
is often patchy and not joined up with wider service provision.
Where it does work, such best practice must be highlighted for
swift implementation by other local commissioners.
The situation is urgent, however little this is recognised at
the top level. What we need is firm leadership to provide clear
direction on what works and what could generate savings for local
authorities while also improving the situation for older people and
their carers on the ground.
Doing nothing is not an option. The alternative - even more cuts
in services, further tightening of eligibility criteria and hikes
in care charges - must not be allowed to happen. But without the
men at the top - not currently even acknowledging we have a problem
- it is clear that we have some way to go.
