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The Care England Manifesto;
A Strategy for the Future of Long Term Care
Care England, the largest representative body for independent providers of adult social care, has today launched its Long Term Plan for the independent adult social care sector.
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says:
“Social care has been ignored by successive governments. Now a long term plan for adult social care is critical. There is no need for further consultation, review of Green Papers; the moment has passed. The sector is brimming with innovation, energy and commitment which needs to be harnessed by an incoming Government into a long term plan”.
The General Election will be held on 12 December and social care is fast becoming a ‘doorstep issue’. Care England’s Long Term Plan calls for the long term sustainability of the adult social are sector to be secured through an immediate £4 billion followed by a longer term plan to ensure the future sustainability of the sector. Unlike other sectors, social care has not received the funding necessary to meet the rapidly rising levels of demand that it has, and will continue, to see. http://www.careengland.org.uk/publications-consultations
Care England calls for fair funding, proportionate regulation and due recognition maintaining that quality care cannot be delivered on a shoestring. Recent research tells us that the majority of social care providers are increasingly pressurised and envisage having to close some part of their services in the near future. The creation of a long term funding solution is also interlinked with the development of an effective and motivated social care workforce, Care England will be holding its National Conference on 13 November entitled Workforce Matters.
Martin Green continues:
“The needs of England’s diverse and pluralist society will be best met by a mixed economy where quality care can be both maintained and increased. We urge providers to use this Long Term Plan to challenge their electoral candidates on their policies for the future direction of care including a well resourced and well trained social care workforce”.
NPC says: ‘Don’t switch her off - do the right thing by your older constituents!’
Every UK MP is being sent a personal plea to save the free TV licence for the country’s millions of over 75’s before the concession is axed on May 31.
Britain’s largest campaigning organisation for older people, the National Pensioners Convention, has emailed personal letters to MP’s of all parties asking that they support the campaign to retain the benefit for our 5.4 million oldest citizens.
The NPC says while the Government has announced a consultation on whether non-payment of the TV licence fee should be decriminalised, over 75’s who can’t afford the £154.40 cost (£157.40 from April) still face having to switch off in June.
NPC General Secretary Jan Shortt said: “We have written to all MP’s to ask that they do the right thing by their oldest and most vulnerable constituents.
“Millions of over 75’s, who are already struggling on the basic state pension, will suffer if the free TV licence is scrapped – they’ll have to choose whether to opt for a cooked meal, a warm home or have the company of their TV.
“It’s not a choice any of our MP’s will ever likely have to face. So we ask them to think of the oldest and most vulnerable in their constituencies - many of them voters who have put their trust in their Parliamentary representatives at the recent election – and back the campaign to stop the free TV licence for over 75’s being axed.
The NPC asks that MP’s press the Government to take back the funding of the free licence from the BBC as a matter of urgency.”
Lobbying Your Local MP
Kit Malthouse is our local MP. His website is kitmalthouse.com
Kit is the Conservative Member of Parliament for North West Hampshire. First elected as the MP in 2015.
London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 5605. E: kit.malthouse.mp@parliament.uk

Why not get involved with AOPF?
The Andover & District Older People's Forum’s purpose is to actively engage in issues affecting the well-being, interests and concerns of the over 55 age group in the Andover & District area; helping with as much information and as many connections as we can provide.
If you feel moved by the drive AOPF promotes, we would very much appreciate your support.
Contact us today to learn more about us, or to ask how you might work with us to help in our local community. Or come along to our next meeting - dates can be found on our Meetings Page - we look forward to welcoming you.
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