Decent social care must be funded through national insurance

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today called for a national Social Care service properly funded through national insurance to tackle the growing crisis in elderly care. The call comes in the wake of demands for urgent action and fundamental reform to care and home help services from a broad coalition of government advisers, charities, unions and independent experts.The union has welcomed some of the proposals set out by the Dilnot Commission as a “step in the right direction” but warned that the commission’s recommendation of voluntary insurance, will not solve the problem of underfunding.Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government said:“Social care is characterised by inadequate funding which has created an unfair and unsustainable system, leading to falling quality care. It’s time to take urgent action but voluntary insurance is not the answer. It will create a two-tier system of care – high quality care paid by insurance and low quality care underfunded by the state.“What is needed is a national Social Care service properly funded through national insurance to really tackle the growing crisis in elderly care. Without serious public funding there will be the disappearance of these services and an increase in private sector provision. This is not the way to ensure a personalised quality care service or develop a quality well paid care workforce for the future.”