Clause 12 - Free provision of certain community care services
Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Bill
2:30 pm
Ms Patsy Calton (Cheadle, Liberal Democrat)
In tabling the amendments, the Liberal Democrats seek to improve and clarify the range of services that are available free to those in need of care.
Four years ago, we felt that the royal commission on long-term care would end the scandal of the forced sale of homes that has been necessary to pay for care, particularly on the part of elderly people. The royal commission reported that charges for personal and nursing care should be scrapped. Four years on, sadly, that situation has not been arrived at. The Liberal Democrats will continue to campaign for what was described in the 2000 NHS plan. It said:
''charges increase the proportion of funding from the unhealthy, old and poor compared with the healthy, young and wealthy.''
Further, the plan said that charges
''discourage use of necessary services.''
Given that the NHS plan, the royal commission on long-term care, and not only the Liberal Democrats but many members of the public have said that, I very much hope that the Government will listen to a further plea to resolve the difficulties that older people face when they deal with—