Four charities have come together to give their backing to the Personal Care at Home bill, which was due for its second reading in Parliament on 1 February.  Age Concern / Help the Aged, Counsel and Care, Parkinson’s Disease Society and Carers UK issued a joint statement in support of the Bill, which promises free home care to anyone aged over 65 who needs it.  The charities said: ‘This Bill would mark an historic end to means-testing and charging for some of the most vulnerable people in our society to provide for their most basic care needs.’  However, the statement goes on to note that the Personal Care Bill is only the first step in ‘…solving the inequalities, inconsistencies and profound funding challenges of our creaking care system.’