Andy Burnham calls for better integration of health and social care services

Published 3 October 2012

Older people are falling through the gaps of separate and fragmented health and care systems according to Andy Burnham MP.

The Shadow Health Secretary, addressing the Labour Conference in Manchester, called for a whole-person care system with mental health being at the heart of the NHS. He also highlighted the need to relieve the worry from carers by providing one point of contact.

Alzheimer’s Society comment:

‘Poor quality care is just one bullet in the gun of injustice faced by so many with care needs. We now have a care crisis with families unable to get the care they need and often facing extremely high costs. People who are being denied appropriate care are more likely to reach crisis point needing to go into care homes or hospital unnecessarily. Failing to act soon will be a false economy.

‘That Mr Burnham is keen to address the issue is promising but we can’t sidestep the other elephant in the room. We need to be hearing from all parties how they plan to mend the funding system. Dilnot is a vital part of the answer but the hard truth is we need to fund care properly too.’

Andrew Chidgey
Director of External Affairs
Alzheimer’s Society

http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/news_article.php?newsID=1350