MS Society Welcomes Government Social Care Review, UK
The State of Social Care in England 06-07 report analysed councils on their performance in providing or commissioning care against national standards and for the first time looked at how they assessed whether people need care.
For some time, the MS Society has campaigned at a local level to raise awareness of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who were being left out in the cold by a shift in the social care eligibility criteria used by local authorities.
The Government has now announced a review of the current measures, which report authors claim are leading to people in need of social care slipping through the net, costing councils more in the long run.
Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive of the MS Society, said: "We are pleased that the CSCI report has kick-started some action from the Government - something the MS Society has wanted for a long time.
"The promised review of the eligibility criteria offers an important opportunity to establish a fair and consistent system for assessing the care needs of people with MS.
"We will take an active role in the review process but this review must be supported by increased funding if the unmet need is to be addressed."
Changes in the eligibility criteria used by councils means that those with low or moderate care needs, such as help with housework and shopping, found themselves falling outside of what their local authority would fund.
Now, people with MS are increasingly reporting difficulties in accessing the care they need and there are enormous discrepancies across the country.
On top of this, by reducing access to services, local authorities have found they are creating a larger and more expensive demand for health and social care in the future.
Simon added: "Access to good care services can help people with MS live independent lives and maximise the number of people able to stay in work. Restricting this access is short-sighted and a self-defeating solution."
http://www.mssociety.org.uk
Ms societãþii salutã Guvernul social de îngrijire de revizuire, Marea Britanie - MS Society Welcomes Government Social Care Review, UK - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate