The Learning Disability Coalition (LDC), a group of 15 charities that campaigns for the rights of adults with physical and mental disabilities, has warned that the proposed National Care Service focuses too much on caring for the elderly at the expense of younger adults with life-long disabilities. The LDC argues that, as the proportion of adults with learning disabilities is rising sharply, the Government needs to give more attention to meeting the spiralling costs of their care. Funding for these adults is particularly vulnerable because so much of it comes from local government and community budgets which are likely to be hit hard by forthcoming cuts in public spending. John Smithies, spokesperson for the Down’s Syndrome Association, comments: ‘The government recognises the demographic argument but hasn’t met the increased need by providing additional funding…The green paper addresses chiefly the elderly, not those who are younger.’ Phil Hope, minister for health, disagreed, stating that younger adults are a priority and that the Green Paper addresses the social care needs of all adults, regardless of age. He added: ‘We have increased investment in local council services by 39% since 1997, and this will rise to 45% by 2010-11. We’ve put £520m into making social care services more tailored to individuals’ needs. We’re also helping to improve healthcare for all people with learning disabilities by offering annual checks through the NHS.’
The ‘Big Care Debate’ on the proposals put forward in July’s Green Paper on social care ends on 13 November 2009. Anyone still wishing to give feedback on the Paper can do so online at www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk.
posted by Cheselden Continuing Care at
17:22
