Social Care today.

Elderly people needing nursing care have to be means tested. No care free at point of delivery irrespective of means.

Local authorities have to find the funds to pay for those without the means to pay for themselves. The truth appears to be that those who do have to pay for themselves also have to subsidise those who cannot.

Care workers are paid minimum wage level remuneration. Agency workers are used extensively.

Covid 19 has demonstrated that the care system continues to be neglected by the government and the sick and vulnerable in care homes did not receive the protection and assistance they deserved.

Lack of PPE, testing, medical support and so on. Patients discharged to care homes without being tested and therefore no surprise that the virus spread rapidly. One care home of which I had personal experience locked down two weeks before the government decided to lock down and last time I checked had no cases of Covid 19. The government’s lockdown was too late particularly for the elderly and sick.

Successive governments have promised reform but there is no sign of a plan. As the population ages the problem gets more acute. Action is needed now.