Social care funding cap "as soon as we are able", Jeremy Hunt tells conference

It was the turn of the new Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to give his speech to the Conservative Party Conference yesterday, during which the minister did confirm his commitment to funding a cap on social care, but without giving any specific clues as to how and when the Government was intending to confirm how it will be paid for.

A cap on individual care costs was a key component of the Dilnot Commission’s recommendations that have received all-party support within Parliament, although funding of the cap was a notable absence from the rest of the care reforms adopted in the Coalition’s Care and Support White Paper, published in July.

Addressing the Tory faithful, Hunt praised the measures set out in the White Paper to help ensure that people will no longer be forced to sell their home to pay for care, calling the reforms a “historic change” then adding “but we also want to go further and implement the Dilnot cap on social care costs as soon as we are able”. The minister also told his party they will need to “face up to some hard truths” about how care financing will be achieved.

Gillian Bowman, manager of the Kames Target Healthcare Fund, who invest in purpose-built healthcare properties, welcomed the Health Secretary’s speech but echoed the thoughts of many in the care sector that the Government needs to reach a conclusion urgently.

Ms Bowman comments: “Jeremy Hunt’s comments are very welcome but there is still a need for action on the proposals sooner rather than later if individuals and care providers are to be able to make firm provision for their futures.

“Individuals continue to be left in limbo with regard to how much they must set aside for their care provision whilst providers still cannot plan their future strategy of business models in the face of continued uncertainty and the strain of local authorities tightening their budgets.’

The new Health Secretary also used his speech to condemn those care services who fail in their duty, naming the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust and also Winterbourne View care home for the highly-publicised, multiple failures that were uncovered. The minister warned care home and hospital managers that similar failures will not be tolerated, saying:

“We have many committed managers in hospitals and care homes, but I need to say this to all managers: you will be held responsible for the care in your establishments. You wouldn't expect to keep your job if you lost control of your finances. Well, don't expect to keep it if you lose control of your care.”

Image courtesy of Conservative Party Photostream