We need 'honest debate' about how to fund an adult care system fit for purpose
Simon Bottery, Director of Policy and External Affairs at Independent Age comments ahead of Peter Heaton-Jones MP's debate on care homes.
“This Parliamentary debate on care home regulation is very timely, given the huge challenges currently faced by the sector. There is an urgent need for improvements to the quality of care available to older people in the UK. We hear warnings on an almost weekly basis about the fragility of the care sector – that it is at a “tipping point”, with health services in a “perpetual winter”.
The Care Quality Commission improvements in their regulatory regime are welcome, but more needs doing. There are many areas where we simply don’t know enough about what is happening to people in care settings. More – and better quality – data is vital here. There must be better information for everyone – regulators, commissioners of services, and most importantly, families and older people themselves. That will help us understand what good quality care looks like, and tackle poor care before they can take hold.
All of these issues need to be placed in the context of a sector facing significant underfunding. There is of course no excuse for abuse, but poor care may flourish in an under-funded care environment with a high turnover of staff and stretched resources. With demand for care services set to increase with an ageing population, we need an honest debate about how we adequately fund an adult care system fit for purpose.”
