All older people should be guaranteed basic level of care

doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7545.810-a

BMJ 2006;332:810 (8 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7545.810-a

News

All older people should be guaranteed basic level of care

Michael Day

London

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The controversial policy of means testing elderly people whoneed long term care must end, says a new report. Under radicalproposals set out by Sir Derek Wanless, the number of peoplein England required to sell their homes to pay for personalcare would be slashed—but at a price.

Sir Derek, who produced the 2002 Treasury report calling fora massive rise in NHS funding, now advocates a near doublingof social care spending over the next 20 years, from 1.1% to2% of gross domestic product (BMJ 2002;324: 998[Free Full Text]). This wouldresult in a tripling of the budget in cash terms from £10.1bn( ${euro}$ 14.5bn; $17.5bn) in 2006 to about £30bn by 2026.

But Sir Derek said that the plans, published in partnershipwith the King's Fund, would guarantee all elderly people a basiclevel of care, regardless of their ability to pay. . . . [Full text of this article]

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