Theresa May's delay of green paper ignores elderly who 'deserve better'

Social care's long-awaited green paper has been postponed again until the autumn, the health secretary Jeremy Hunt has told MPs.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell on Monday evening sparking dismay amongst care leaders who argue millions of older people and disabled are being let down by government delays.

The policy paper meant to be a blueprint for social care had initially been due in the summer of 2017 but was pushed back until this July only to be postponed again until autumn.

’Unacceptable’

Dr Rhidian Hughes, chief executive of VODG (Voluntary Organisations Disability Group), said: “It is wholly unacceptable that once again government has decided to delay the green paper process.

“Action is vital. Millions of disabled and older people, and their carers, rely on essential social care services each day – we all deserve better.”

Dr Hughes also said the “Government is failing to heed warnings from the Care Quality Commission regulator about the sustainability of provision”.

Colin Angel, policy and campaigns director at the UK Homecare Association, representing home care providers, had a more positive view but acknowledged in a tweet that the Health and Social Care department "haven't got ducks in a row".

Vic Rayner, the executive director of the National Care Forum, representing care home providers, was equally critical of the government's inability to make any decisions about social care. NCF's executive director said: “The need for action on social care is now.

“We were promised a green paper on social care this Summer, way before the current announcements on funding and a ten-year settlement for the NHS. “The continual pushing back of this key policy agenda is a disservice to people who need and use services, and the wider community.”

Social care funding will be 'moulded to shape NHS priorities'

She said the green paper “needs to focus on a funding solution for social care, alongside important messages around the transformation of service models and delivery.

“The green paper needs to explore these in detail and therefore the purported logic of tying together the consultative paper on social care with the action based funded plan for the NHS does not hold true."

Vic Raynor also said she was concerned “real innovation and exploration promised in the social care green paper will disappear as social care and its future funding is shaped and moulded to meet NHS priorities”.

The decision to postpone the green paper adds to an already depressing week for the social care sector with £20bn a year announced for the NHS by Prime Minister Theresa May but no extra money agreed for social care.