Lisa Nandy calls on Government to tackle ‘urgent’ care crisis

Following last week’s Queen’s Speech, MP for Wigan Lisa Nandy has accused David Cameron and Nick Clegg of breaking further promises on reforming social care.

In 2010, the Coalition said they would publish legislation in the second session of this Parliament to establish a sustainable legal and financial framework for adult social care, instead they have only committed to publishing draft legislation with no reference to reforming how social care is funded.

The UK’s care system is in crisis.  45,000 people in Wigan are over 65 years old; by 2030, this figure is projected to rise to over 74,000. 22% of Wigan residents, around 69,000 people, have a long term condition.  Musculo‐Skeletal conditions, Cardio Vascular Disease and Mental Health problems account for 70% of this figure, impacting on how well people are able to live independently in their own homes and community.

This is causing terrible hardship and distress for older and disabled people, and affecting our economy, jobs and living standards too.

One million unpaid carers across England and Wales have had to give up work, or reduce their hours, because the support they need to look after family members isn’t available or is too expensive.  This costs the economy £1.3 billion every year in lost tax revenues and increased benefit bills.

Lisa Nandy MP has said:

“The Government has failed to deliver the protected budgets for social care that they promised in their spending review. Over £1 billion has been cut from local council budgets for older people’s social care since the Conservative-led Government came to power.

I will be working with the local authority to ensure that the highest possible levels of care are delivered for older and disabled people within the budgetary constraints that have been forced on them by this out of touch Government.

There are few issues more important than social care.  Even the Government’s own Office for Budget Responsibility has said our ageing population is the primary pressure on the long-term sustainability of the country’s finances.  It has warned that, without major changes, including to health and social care services, this could affect the long-term growth of our economy.

There is nothing to stop the Government – if they are serious about social care reform – committing to legislation in this session of Parliament and I will be pushing them to do so.”