74% British adults in favour of independent health and care commission – new poll
Ahead of the second reading of the NHS and Social Care (Commission) Bill, a new poll commissioned by Independent Age reveals three quarters of British adults agree there is a need for an independent Commission.
In just over 20 years’ time, almost a quarter of us will be 65 or over. This is a good thing, we are all living longer and that should be welcomed and celebrated. However, as a country, we are woefully unprepared for the changes an ageing population brings, in particular the serious implications for our health and social care system.
This is why we at Independent Age are strongly supporting the call made by former Care Minister Norman Lamb MP and former Health Secretaries Stephen Dorrell and Alan Milburn, for a cross-party independent Commission to examine the future of health and social care in England in our ‘Care for Tomorrow’ campaign.
There is also strong support for a Commission from the public. Polling commissioned by Independent Age highlighted that nine in ten (91%) British adults agree that all political parties should work together to ensure we can rely on health and care services as we get older. Three quarters of British adults (74%) agree that an independent commission should be set up to review how we should fund and run the NHS and care for elderly and disabled people in England.
Our polling also found that half of British adults think the NHS (51%) and care services for the elderly and disabled (47%) have worsened over the last 12 months and four-fifths (85%) are concerned about the impact of an ageing population on the NHS and care services in Britain.
Unless we begin to address the impact of ageing on the NHS and social care, our health and care system will continue to creak under ever increasing demand as the pressure continues to build. The impact of this will be felt most acutely by the vulnerable, the elderly and disabled people and the polling shows clear impetus for action from the public on the issue.
Everyone should have access to good quality care throughout their lifetime and that means creating a sustainable health and care system which is fit for purpose for generations to come. That’s why we are urging all political parties to come together on this very important issue and support the second reading of Norman Lamb’s NHS and Social Care (Commission) Bill on Friday, only that will show that they truly care for tomorrow.
To join the #carefortomorrow campaign visit campaigns.independentage.org and sign up for regular updates today.
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