Government Green Paper on Care for Older People Delayed Until Summer 2018

Ministers have been accused of "dragging their feet" on a promised shake-up of social care funding after First Secretary of State Damian Green quietly released a statement deferring the publication of the much anticipated green paper until summer 2018.

The paper was originally planned for the end of 2017 but the Government has stated that it needs more time to find a long-term solution, as an ageing population and increased demand heap pressure on the wider health service.

The paper will set out plans for how the government proposes to improve care and support for older people and tackle the challenge of an ageing population.

First Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Damian Green, said “An ageing population needs a long-term solution for care, but building a sustainable support system will require some big decisions. In developing the green paper, it is right that we take the time needed to debate the many complex issues and listen to the perspectives of experts and care users, to build consensus around reforms which can succeed.”

The government has begun a process of engagement in advance of the green paper to ensure it reflects a wide range of views and requirements, working with:

• Caroline Abrahams – Charity Director of Age UK
• Dame Kate Barker – former Chair of the King’s Fund Commission on the Future of Health and Social Care in England
• Sir David Behan – Chief Executive of Care Quality Commission
• Dr Eileen Burns – President of the British Geriatrics Society
• Professor Paul Burstow – Chair of the Social Care Institute for Excellence
• Jules Constantinou – President-elect of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries
• Sir Andrew Dilnot – former Chair of the Commission on the Funding of Care and Support
• Baroness Martha Lane Fox – Founder and Executive Chair of Doteveryone
• Mike Parish – Chief Executive of Care UK
• David Pearson – former President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and Corporate Director for Social Care, Health and Public Protection at Nottinghamshire County Council
• Imelda Redmond – National Director of Healthwatch England
• Nigel Wilson – Chief Executive of Legal and General

Once the green paper is published in summer 2018, it will be subject to a full public consultation.

In response to the announcement Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said "It is crucial that this consultation process finally results in the improved, fair and sustainable care system that is so desperately needed. In the meantime, however, it is important that action is urgently taken to ease the all too obvious funding pressures that are undermining the services on offer to older people."