Elderly care petition could go to Parliament after gaining 130,000 signatures
Campaigners for an overhaul of the elderly care system hope to trigger a debate in Parliament after collecting more than 130,000 signatures on a petition to David Cameron.
By John Bingham, Social Affairs Editor
7:00AM BST 15 May 2012
The petition, supported by more than 50 organisations working with elderly and disabled people, demands urgent action to introduce a new system of social care.
It comes amid claims of “betrayal” after last week’s Queen’s Speech which included a commitment only to a draft bill to reform the system with no mention of how care should be funded.
A white paper is due in the coming weeks to set out some aspects of how social care could be reformed.
But separate all-party talks, going on behind closed doors, on how on how to fund care for Britain’s ageing population have not yet reached agreement.
Last year an official commission chaired by the economist Andrew Dilnot called for a system in which people with assets of more than £100,000 should pay towards their own care but capped at around £35,000.
Mr Dilnot said that without a cap no-one would even be able to plan financially for their old age.
The “Care in Crisis” petition, organised by Age UK, calls for a new system which allows everyone to plan for their care ensure that no-one is forced to sell their home or sacrifice all their savings to pay for it.
Signatures were collected through Age UK’s website and in its charity shops.
Although it was not an official Downing Street petition, which would trigger a debate in parliament once more than 100,000 signatures are collected, Age UK hopes to use supportive MPs to secure a debate.
Tom Wright, chief executive of Age UK said: “Now that we have news of a draft bill, the Government must now show its commitment to legislate as soon as possible. Older people have waited long enough for reform – any further delays will only condemn millions of vulnerable people to uncertainty, worry and financial insecurity, just at a time when they need to be looked after.
“Alongside the publication of the forthcoming care and support white paper, we must also see a robust funding report which is crucial for the success of any reform measures.
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