Getting social care funding right is crucial, says RCN

Published: 07 January 2013

The Royal College of Nursing today called for implementation of the Dilnot recommendations.

 Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, welcomed the Government’s focus on addressing the “hugely important issue” of social care funding. “However, while these are positive steps, there needs to be much more detail about how the Government is going to deliver a system that is fit for purpose,” he said.

 “Our concern is that setting a cap at £75,000 or above will help very few people and will still lead to many people being forced to sell their homes. We believe that the Dilnot Commission, with its recommended cap of £35,000 for social care costs, provided a workable solution to social care funding.”

 The comments came in response to the Government’s announcement of plans to cap social care costs for older people.

 “Getting social care funding right is crucial, not only for the future of social care, but the NHS too, and we would urge implementation of the Dilnot recommendations as soon as possible,” Dr Carter added.