Care reform must be 'fair, simple and sustainable'

Any reform to the UK's social care system must be "fair, simple and sustainable", according to a leading older person's charity.

While the country waits for solid proposals from the government about how the social care system should move forward, there is a consensus that changes need to be radical, according to Counsel and Care chief executive Stephen Burke.

There is already a funding gap of £8 billion and if care is to be improved then more money will need to be invested, he claimed.

"There is no question that a new care system must make better use of existing resources and provide better support for older people and family carers to help themselves," Mr Burke said.

At a meeting chaired by Age Concern and Help the Aged on Wednesday, representatives of the three major political parties began to discuss proposals for reform.

Andrew Harrop, director of policy and public affairs for Age Concern and Help the Aged, said that none of the proposals put forward thus far have been credible.

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