News / Confederation calls for social care insurance

Funding tomorrow today, a paper designed to stimulate discussion ahead of the Confederation’s annual conference in June, said the UK’s social care system was in difficulty and an honest debate about funding was needed.

The current model, where free provision is limited on grounds of eligibility and wealth was unsustainable. Most local authorities offer care only to those with substantial or critical needs and they must have assets worth less than £21,500.

It argued it was unrealistic to expect future generations to pick up the bill for an ageing population.

Social insurance was needed if Sir Derek Wanless’ partnership model of cost-sharing between the state and individuals was to be adopted.

The state could fund a minimum level of care for all patients, and this could be topped up using contributions made to a social insurance fund. This could be made compulsory, though there would be tax-funded contributions for the poorest. Such a system would emphasise prevention over high cost ‘last resorts’ such as care homes, while users would have greater say over how they are cared for.

NHS Confederation chief executive Gill Morgan said it was time the country faced up to the problem and addressed the inherent unfairness of the current system, which provided little incentive to save for social care costs.

‘Decisions around the care of the elderly and the long-term sick cause genuine heartache for frontline NHS staff. A system of social insurance that guarantees a level of care to the elderly and sick in keeping with the NHS’s values of fairness and social justice with top ups for those who can afford it and support for those that can’t offers a fairer way forward,’ she added.