Labour lords hit out at Brown's care plan
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Labour peer Lord Lipsey has attacked Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s plans to offer free care at home to the elderly, claiming it is “one of the most irresponsible acts to be put forward by a Prime Minister in recent history”.
The Government unveiled the measure, which is seen as a key part of its re-election strategy, in last week’s Queen’s Speech.
But Lord Lipsey, a former member of the royal commission on long-term care and ex-chairman of the Financial Services Consumer Panel, told The Times newspaper that the move amounted to “a demolition job on the national budget” because it was poorly targeted and would see the Government footing the bill for unnecessary claims made by the well-off.
He accused the Government of perpetuating a “pernicious myth” that people are better cared for in their own homes than in nursing homes and said the plans threaten to undo work on building a system to help those most in need of care.
Another Labour peer, former health minister Lord Warner, said: “There has been no proper impact assessment and no data to show how this would work. There is a big question mark as to whether there is even actually a Bill ready.”
The Association of British Insurers claims that the Government has undermined its own green paper.
Acting director general Maggie Craig says: “It is regrettable that the Personal Care at Home Bill undermines the Government’s own social care green paper, published as recently as July. That set out a range of funding options for at-home and residential care but this announcement seems to undermine the funding options set out in it.
“The insurance industry wants to be part of the solution and deliver the best and most cost-effective long-term care but this needs clarity and certainty from the Government, which piecemeal polices do not provide.”
Craig urged the Government to involve the insurance industry in any new proposals.
The Government says the personal care bill will guarantee free personal care for 280,000 people with the highest needs and protect the savings of 166,000 people who get free care from future charges. It will help around 130,000 people who need home care for the first time and offer home adaptations or technology where it can reduce care needs.
