Below is the full text of an open letter sent to the Prime Minister which has beenpublished in the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday 3rd January.www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/8988318/The-Government-must-makereforming-the-care-system-a-top-priority.html
The Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AA
Dear Prime Minister,
As a society we face a growing care challenge.We should celebrate the fact that we are all living longer lives, particularly disabledpeople and those with long-term conditions. But the unavoidable challenge we face ishow to support the increasing number of people who need care.
It is currently a challenge which we are failing to meet – resulting in terrible examples ofabuse and neglect in parts of the care system.
This comes at huge cost to the dignity and independence of older and disabled people,but also to our society, family life and the economy:
An estimated 800,000 older people are being left without basic care1 – lonely, isolatedand at risk. Others face losing their homes and savings because of soaring care bills.
Disabled people are unable get the support they need to live their lives independently and be part of society.
Businesses are losing increasing numbers of experienced staff who are forced to give upwork to care for older or disabled relatives. These carers can then be pushed to breakingpoint, providing round the clock care.
Our NHS is also paying the price, as a lack of support leads to avoidable hospital admissions and then keeps older and disabled in hospital beds because they cannot becared for at home.
We have a duty as a nation to change this – but it requires political leadership.1 Care in Crisis (2011) Age UK.
This summer, the independent Dilnot Commission into Funding of Care and Support published its recommendations. In response, your Government has committed topublishing a White Paper on Social Care by April.
With new cross-party talks on the future of care, we are closer than ever to reaching anew consensus. We urge you and the other party leaders to seize this opportunity forurgent, fundamental and lasting reform: delivering a social care system which canprovide the well-funded and high-quality care and support we would all expect forourselves and our families.
Signed:
Rick Henderson, Chief Executive, Action for AdvocacyGary Fitzgerald, Chief Executive, Action on Elder AbuseDr Roger Wicks, Director, Research, Policy & Government Relations, Action on HearingLossGary Fitzgerald, Chief Executive, Action on Elder AbuseMichelle Mitchell, Charity Director, Age UKJeremy Hughes, Chief Executive, Alzheimer’s SocietyJane Ashcroft, Chief Executive, AnchorOtto Thoresen, Director General, Association of British InsurersMike Parsons, Founder and Chief Executive, Barchester HealthcareHilton Dawson, Chief Executive, The British Association of Social WorkersDr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman, British Medical Association CouncilMichael Adamson, Managing Director, British Red CrossCaroline Waters OBE, Director of People and Policy, BT plc; Chair, Employers for CarersMark Ellerby, Managing Director, Bupa Care ServicesEmily Holzhausen, Director of Policy & Public Affairs, Carers UKHelen O’Brien, Chief Executive, Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN)Professor Sue Yeandle, Director, Centre for International Research on Care, Labour &Equalities, University of LeedsMel Flogdell, Head of HR Policy, Centrica PlcGillian Guy, Chief Executive, Citizens AdviceBaroness Campbell of Surbiton, Crossbench PeerBaroness Meacher of Spitalfields, Crossbench PeerLord Low of Dalston CBE, Crossbench PeerAnne Roberts OBE, Chief Executive, Crossroads CareGavin Hayes, General Secretary, CompassMartin Green, Chief Executive, English Community Care AssociationAndrew Harrop, General Secretary, Fabian SocietyDavid Cowdrey, Head of Public Policy & Campaigns, Guide DogsBruce Moore, Chief Executive, HanoverRachael Byrne, Executive Director, Care & Support, Home GroupBill Crowder, Head of Care Services, Huntington’s Disease AssociationBaroness Greengross of Notting Hill, Chief Executive, ILC-UKJanet Morrison, Chief Executive, Independent AgeSimon Morris, Chief Executive, Jewish CareTerence Stokes, Chief Executive, LasaAnthea Sully, Director , Learning Disability CoalitionAlex Turner, Managing Director, Listawood LtdCiarán Devane, Chief Executive, Macmillan Cancer SupportImelda Redmond CBE, Director of Policy & Public Affairs, Marie Curie Cancer CareMark Goldring, Chief Executive, MencapRoger Davies, CEO, Methodist Homes (MHA)Dr Kirstine Knox, Chief Executive, Motor Neurone Disease AssociationSimon Gillespie, Chief Executive, MS SocietyMark Lever, Chief Executive, National Autistic SocietySue Bott, Director, National Centre for Independent LivingOi Mei Li, Director, National Family Carers NetworkEve Richardson, Chief Executive, National Palliative Care CouncilAilsa Bosworth, National Rheumatoid Arthritis SocietyJeremy Taylor, Chief Executive, National VoicesArlene Wilkie, Chief Executive, Neurological AllianceMike Farrar, Chief Executive, NHS ConfederationElaine Kerr, Chief Executive, NorwoodRoger Phillips, Regional Vice President, NutriciaSteve Ford, Chief Executive, Parkinson’s UKLiz Fenton, Chief Executive, Princess Royal Trust for CarersLiz Sayce OBE, Chief Executive, RadarJudy Downey, Chair, Relatives and Residents AssociationPaul Jenkins, Chief Executive, Rethink Mental IllnessLesley-Anne Alexander, Chief Executive, RNIBMatthew Taylor, Chief Executive, Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts,Manufactures and Commerce (RSA)Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive, ScopeGillian Morbey OBE, Chief Executive, SensePeter Beresford, Chair, Shaping Our LivesAlex Fox, Chief Executive, Shared Lives PlusJames Lloyd, Director, Strategic Society CentreJon Barrick, Chief Executive, The Stroke AssociationPaul Woodward, Chief Executive, Sue Ryder CareBrendan Barber, General Secretary, Trades Union Congress (TUC)Victor Adebowale, Chief Executive, Turning PointSu Sayer, Chief Executive, United ResponseJohn Hannett, General Secretary, USDAWVal Morrison, Moderator of the General Assembly, United Reformed Church
