Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Social Care Reform

Tuesday 6 December 2022 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • We are already putting social care reforms into practice, including encouraging care providers to adopt digital care records, with more than 50% having done so.
  • The government is looking into ensuring people in social care settings have access to geriatrician consultations, although specific measures to increase the number of geriatricians are not detailed.
  • The Minister agrees to meet with Wendy Morton urgently to address the issue of a constituent's care funding falling between two local authorities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Catherine West Lab Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Social Care Standards & Ethics
Context

The question is prompted by ongoing discussions about the implementation of social care reforms in the UK. The MP highlights specific areas where progress needs to be made.

Question

What progress has been made on delivering social care reform? I am concerned that despite promising reforms, there are still issues with digital records and transparency in the system.

Answer from Helen Whately

We are already putting social care reforms into practice. For instance, we want care providers to adopt digital care records, and more than 50% have already done so. I am determined to shine more light on our social care system, so our new Care Quality Commission-led assurance of local authorities' social care duties will start in April.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific progress made since initial promises was not addressed directly.

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Q2 Catherine West Lab Hornsey and Friern Barnet
NHS Social Care
Context

The question is prompted by concerns over the availability of geriatricians for people receiving social care. The MP references a high vacancy rate within the NHS.

Question

What urgent action is being taken to ensure that people in social care settings are seeing a geriatrician consultant regularly? If there is a shortage, what measures are being put in place to increase the number of doctors training as geriatricians?

Answer from Helen Whately

The hon. Lady makes an important point about people who are receiving social care also having access to the healthcare they need and these systems working together across our health and social care systems. We are training more doctors overall, and we have an increase in medical school places, which is leading to more doctors coming through. I am happy to take away and look at her question about the number of geriatricians.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific measures addressing the shortage of geriatricians were not detailed.

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Q3 Wendy Morton Con Aldridge-Brownhills
Social Care Local Government
Context

The question is prompted by a constituent case where funding across local authority borders is an issue. The MP seeks clarity on how such cases will be handled.

Question

Does the Minister agree that we need to look at funding packages working across borders? I have a constituent whose care falls between two local authorities. Will she meet me urgently to ensure this constituent receives needed funding for her husband's care?

Answer from Helen Whately

As announced in the autumn statement, we have a record funding settlement of £7.5 billion going into the social care system over the next two years, to improve both access and quality of care. I am happy to meet my right hon. Friend to look into the specific challenge that she has outlined, because it is important that local areas are working together across boundaries.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The minister did not explicitly agree with cross-border funding solutions.

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Q4 Liz Kendall Lab Leicester West
Social Care
Context

The question is prompted by a long history of delays and failures in implementing promised social care reforms. The MP critiques the government's track record and current state of social care.

Question

After 12 years, what have Conservative Members got to show on social care? Their cap on care costs was first promised 10 years ago but delayed and eventually scrapped. Isn't it true that the country deserves a change?

Answer from Helen Whately

We have delayed our social care charging reforms because we listened to those in the system and we heard local authorities asking for more time to prepare. Importantly, we have allowed local authorities to keep the money allocated to that in their bank accounts to fund some of the current pressures on social care. I ask the hon. Lady to recognise the record funding settlement for social care in the autumn statement—£7.5 billion for social care over the next two years—which she has not even acknowledged.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific achievements by Conservatives were not detailed; focus was on recent funding announcements.

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