‘Make This An Election For Social Care’
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called for a General Election after months of speculation, and the date for the 2024 General Election will be Thursday, 4 July.
CARE of the country’s oldest and most vulnerable must be a top priority at the General Election campaigners argued today.
“At last, we have a General Election,” said Mike Padgham, Chair of the providers organisation, the Independent Care Group (ICG), “Now let’s make sure it is a General Election for social care!”
As the Prime Minister announced 4th July as the date of the election, the ICG said giving care to those who couldn’t get it and properly rewarding heroic care staff had to be priorities.
“This is the moment, for social care,” Mr Padgham added. “We must seize this opportunity to begin reform that will give care to millions who can’t get it; give fair pay to a workforce that is short of 152,000 staff; end the closure of care providers and finally treat the oldest and most vulnerable section of our community with the respect it deserves.
“We have endured 30 years of neglect, betrayal and broken promises. Now we want to see the manifestos and hear what they intend for social care.
“And we must grasp this rare opportunity to get the country a cradle to the grave service it deserves.
“When the candidates come to our doorsteps, we must ask them what they intend for social care and not let them off with weasel words or vague promises.
“We want proper reform and we will hold them accountable for what they promise.”
Some 1.6m people can’t get care, there are 152,000 social care staff vacancies and providers of homecare and residential care are leaving the sector every day.
The ICG says it is time for the Conservatives to break their silence on what they propose for social care and for the other parties to expand on what they have said so far. Labour has so far promised better pay for the workforce while the Liberal Democrats promise free personal care for some, a Carer’s Minimum Wage and greater support for unpaid carers.
