New Social Care Proposals May Face Backlash As A Result Of England's Failure To Address The Winter Problem
Ministers are risking a new backlash over social care by releasing long-awaited proposals that will provide no extra funds to help crisis-hit care providers get through the winter.
Gillian Keegan, the care minister, is set to present the white paper to parliament on Wednesday, as part of Boris Johnson's 2019 campaign vow to "address the crisis in social care once and for all."
According to reports, the package includes plans to invest some of the £5.4 billion raised by the new health and social care levy. Several hundred million pounds will be spent to support the establishment of "additional care" facilities, commonly known as "assisted living," which allow older people to live independently while also receiving nursing care.
It is also projected to spend more than £100 million on enhancing technology in care facilities, which will include anything from digitising resident records to devices that track falls and allow for greater independence.
Both efforts are likely to be hailed as significant steps toward making social care more fit for purpose, with the potential to increase the freedom of those who rely on it and allow them to stay at home for longer.