Lib Dem leader launches new health care policy at Bradbury Centre

The new Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, chose AC Kingston's flagship Bradbury Centre to launch his first policy on 22nd January.

The new Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, chose AC Kingston's flagship Bradbury Centre to launch his first policy on 22nd January. In Empowerment, Fairness and Quality in Heath Care, the Lib Dems promise a people-centred approach and £2 billion extra pounds for social care.

The new party leader discussed social care with Bradbury members over coffee and home-made cakes, and watched our popular line-dancing class in action.

AC Kingston Chief Executive, Shane, Brennan, said:
"We were delighted to welcome Nick Clegg and his team to AC Kingston. Bradbury was built without any public funding and is a fantastic example of how the third sector can bring resources into the local area to provide quality services which local people need and want."

Patrick South, Head of Public Affairs, Age Concern England, thanked Shane Brennan and the Bradbury team for hosting the event and commented, "I thought it went really well. It's fantastic to come into an organisation that can pull this sort of thing off."

The Liberal Democrats' plans detail the fundamental reforms they see needed in social care including making the funding system fairer, improving the quality of care and ensuring care is available where and when it is needed.

The Liberal Democrats' approach is based on the partnership model proposed in the Wanless Report in which the Government would pay for a minimum standard of care for everyone according to need, without regard for their means. There is also a heavy emphasis on both the use of individual budgets to give those needing care more control and on support for unpaid carers.

Age Concern Director General Gordon Lishman also attended the launch and said, "We support the people-centred vision outlined by the Liberal Democrats today. This represents an important contribution to the debate about how to remedy the scandalous failure of the current social care system in England. It is also very welcome that the Liberal Democrats recognise that any serious answer to this question will involve substantial additional costs."

"The extension of individual care budgets, a policy supported by the three main parties, can ensure that giving people the money to purchase their own care can help them regain control of their own lives so long as they receive proper support and advice. It is an important step but not the sole answer to the crisis facing social care."

The Government is considering a fundamental reform of the care system and has announced that it is preparing a Green Paper which is expected to be published later in the year.

The key issues that Age Concern is calling on all parties to address in a widely supported reform of the social care system are:

• The quality of care must be improved in order to ensure that older people have their independence, rights and dignity respected.
• Older people must have better access to care, including support in their own homes. Preventative care will help people remain independent and may reduce healthcare and care home costs.
• If government is to share the responsibility and cost of caring with older people and their families, the system must be fairer and more transparent. It should to be easier and more worthwhile to prepare for needing care.