Commenting on the appointment of Matt Hancock as the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, George McNamara, Director of Policy at Independent Age, the older people's charity, said:
“The new Secretary of State will have a full in-tray, but must immediately commit to securing the future of health and social care, which addresses a growing funding gap and better meets the needs of older people by increasing quality and access to care and support. Action must also be taken to transform the attractiveness, opportunities for career progression and value given to the social care workforce.”
Independent Age is calling for the new Secretary of State to announce plans which:
1. Commit to significantly improving the health and quality of life of older people by reducing inequalities, addressing unmet need and making prevention one of his departmental priorities.
2. Set out a clear ambition to publish a publish social care green paper that massively transforms the quality and access of social care for older people.
3. Transform the attractiveness, opportunities for career progression and value given to the social care workforce.
4. Integrate health, social care and housing, focusing care and support that works for people - not complex and disjointed systems.
5. Give social care an immediate funding boost to end cuts to vital care and support.
6. Ensure a long-term sustainable funding settlement for health, public health and social care that better meets need by increasing quality and access to care and support.