RCN response to the Commission on Funding of Care and Support

Published: 04 July 2011

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today responded to the Commission on Funding of Care and Support.

Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said:

“Getting social care funding right is crucial not only for the sustainability of the social care system, but the NHS too.  On a daily basis nurses have to deal with the burden of repeated form filling and eligibility assessments.  It is nursing staff and the NHS that have to deal with the pressures of delayed transfers, referrals and confusion over who pays for what.  In light of this, we welcome the Commission’s recommendation of a standardised, simplified system. We hope that a future system will, in practice, deliver a social care system that can effectively work with the NHS and provide integrated care.

“We fully support the Commission’s recommendation that increased funding is an urgent requirement within the social care system. The current level of unmet social care need is deeply concerning, particularly when local authorities are increasingly restricting free support to only people with critical needs and the lowest means.  The current system is consequently unfair and varies widely across the country. To meet the challenges facing the social care system, reforms must provide equitable access and an end to the postcode lottery. This would maximise prevention opportunities and eradicate unmet care needs.

“A solution to the funding of social care is long overdue and following today’s report all political parties now need to work together to agree the system. Policy makers must now have an honest debate with the public about funding the new system and what the public will be entitled to.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

1.  For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit  http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media
2. 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 organisations