KENT NEWS: Taxpayers could end up footing
a £22 million bill if Government plans to introduce unlimited free care for the elderly get the go ahead.
Social service officials at Kent County Council slammed the proposals, arguing they are “simply not affordable”.
Concerns were raised after ministers announced they were hoping to bring in new guidelines with the Personal Care at Home Bill, to try and eliminate time limits in respect of elderly and disability care.
Currently, local authorities are able to provide certain community care schemes free of charge for up to six weeks.
But Government intends to remove this time limit for those with greatest need, despite problems with cost.
National guidance for free personal care is only in draft form, but highlights some of the complex guidelines that need to be met for a person to be entitled to the service.
To get the promised free personal care the individual must have the “highest levels of need” and require day-to-day assistance with eating and drinking, personal toilet care, managing immobility, management of medication and ensuring personal safety.
In addition, the risk to the individual if these needs are not met must be critical,
for example, their lives are threatened or significant health problems will develop.
Research carried out by KCC’s adult social services team found the new policy could cost the authority between £9m and £22m, with only a £5m government grant for support.
Cllr Graham Gibbens, cabinet member for Kent adult social services at KCC, said the scheme could only be paid for through cuts to NHS cuts and higher council taxes.
“In an ideal world, we would wish to give free personal care at home to as many elderly people as possible,” he said. “However, it is simply not affordable, particularly since we are in the throes of a debt crisis.
“Having given careful consideration to the details in the consultation document and accompanying impact assessment, we have grave misgivings and reached the conclusion the proposals have not been sufficiently costed and assessed.”
The Department of Health admitted in an impact assessment to uncertainties within the costs.
Cllr Gibbens said: “In my opinion, this has been pushed through with limited debate in the House of Commons.”
If plans are given the go ahead, hundreds more people would qualify for free care in their homes by carers.
Cllr Gibbens added: “Other financial risks, which cannot be assessed but which could further increase costs, are people believing they should be eligible for this support when they are not, therefore refusing to pay for their support,” he said.
The Personal Care at Home Bill was read
at the House of Lords on Monday after being passed through the House of Commons last month.
POSTED: 06/02/2010 15:00:00
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