RCN response to Government proposals on social care costs

Published: 07 January 2013

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today (January 7) responded to the Government’s announcement of plans to cap care costs for older people. Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the RCN, said:

“We welcome 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. 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.

“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. It will also not result in a fair partnership system being developed.

“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.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. An RCN survey last year revealed cuts to social care are impacting on community nurses’ caseloads and the quality of care they can provide:

- 75% said the pressure on their team had increased as a result of social care cuts.
- Just 6% of respondents stated that they had the time to provide the quality of care they would like
- As a result of social care cuts, 49% of respondents said they were more concerned about their team’s capacity to protect children and/or adults at risk

2. For further information, please contact the RCN Media Office on 020 7647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit  http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

3. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organizations.