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Last opportunity to shape England's future care and support system   

  • Last modified date:
    26 November 2008
Older lady receiving a cup of tea

How do you think England’s care and support system should work in the future? The Government will publish a Green Paper in early 2009, examining how a new system could work. It is asking citizens, service users and stakeholders how they think high quality, fair and sustainable services should be set up and delivered.

Comments are being accepted until November 28, so time is short. Do not miss the chance to have your say.

Log on to the Care and Support website to read about the engagement process so far, answer key questions and submit your thoughts on how you think care and support services should operate in the future.

What is care and support?

Care and support services are those which help people live independent, active and healthy lives and to be part of the community.  Many are to help older or disabled people and people with long-term illness.

Services include meals on wheels, care homes, day care, care at home, counselling and occupational therapy, support for carers, some parts of housing support services for older people and disabled people.

This range of services and types of financial assistance are being considered within the scope of the Green Paper.

The need for change

When the NHS was created in 1948, social care as we know it today did not exist. It was assumed that women would naturally want to take care of ageing relatives. The world has changed a great deal in the last 60 years, as have our needs.

We are living much longer. In 20 years there will be twice as many people in England aged over 85, and four times as many people aged over 100. This means that more people need care and support, and for longer. In 20 years time, we would need an extra £6 billion a year just to provide the same level of services as today.

Also, our expectations have changed. People today want more choice and services that are flexible and personalised.

The Government wants to create a high quality, affordable system that promotes independence and choice for everyone. We also need to decide who should take responsibility for care and support: the state, the family, the individual or a combination.

You can have your say on the future of care and support by visiting the voting area of the Care and Support website, or you can give more specific views by visiting the Achieving Our Vision, Sharing the Responsibility, Setting the Rules pages of the site.

Alternatively you can email us with your thoughts at:

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