Response to proposal to deny social care to 100,000 disabled people

The Government has today published proposals for who will be in and who will be out of the social care system in the future. There will be a consultation between now and November, after which the plans will go to Parliament.

Richard Hawkes, chief executive of the disability charity Scope, said:

“The Government took the bold step of investing more than £3bn in social care.

“It’s now confirmed who it wants in and out of the system.

“Under the proposals more than a hundred thousand disabled people who need care to get up, get washed and dressed and get out would be shut out of the system.

“The Government has ignored disabled and older people, it’s ignored public opinion and it’s ignored the experts who are calling for a more preventative system to take pressure off A&E.

“They need support to live independent lives. Without it, they are left isolated and in crisis.

“With councils facing a further 10% cut, the hope that other services will pick up the preventative work is unrealistic.

“But this is still a draft – the plans will now be consulted on and then debated in Parliament. We need to carry on showing that Britain cares about social care.

“There are positives to build on. The Government has scrapped the current set of thresholds altogether ending the postcode lottery and the new focus on an individual’s well-being is welcome.

“But its commitment to a higher level of eligibility means it is in danger of passing up the chance to build a truly preventative care system that provides support, at the right time, to the right people, and helps take the pressure of A&E.”