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Member of Parliament for Bradford East@DavidWardMP on Twitter and Facebook |
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David Ward MP <>
MP to launch Bradford study of social care
July 17, 2012 12:04 PM
Bradford MP David Ward has welcomed Government proposals to reform the social care system announced in the draft Care and Support Bill today and announced the launch of a constituency-wide survey to allow Bradford residents to feed into the development of the Bill. 
Today's announcements include the introduction of portable needs assessments, so that people receiving care do not need to be reassed when they move to a different local authority. The White Paper also proposes a universal 'needs test' for social care, ending the current postcode lottery of care entitlements.
However the White Paper does not include key recommendations from the Dilnot Commission to address the growing social care funding crisis, including a £35,000 cap on the amount that any individual has to pay for care in their lifetime and an increase in the amount of assets a person can hold before they must pay the full cost of their own care.
The Government are currently consulting on the proposals with the intention of introducing a Bill in the Autumn. David Ward is today announcing a comprehensive study of the social care in Bradford, including a constituency-wide survey, to ensure that Bradford residents have their voices heard in the debate about how the social care system should be updated.
Commenting David said:
"This will be the biggest reform of the social care system for nearly sixty years. The measures put forward today are very welcome news for Bradford. However, I am concerned that the White Paper doesn't get to grips with the looming crisis in social care funding.
"There are some excellent proposals on the table from the Dilnot Commission and these should be implemented without delay. The NHS, Age UK and Royal College of Nursing have all predicted that without reform of social funding we will see hospitals flooded with thousands of people who would be better off being looked after in their own homes.
"I will be conducting research over the summer to investigate the state of social care in Bradford. This will include interviewing care recipients, council officials and local service providers. The Care Minister Paul Burstow has agreed to visit Bradford in the Autumn to hear about our findings. This is a great opportunity to make sure the needs of the city help to shape the development of this Bill in the Autumn."