Report calls for fairer funding of care

Calls have been made for a fairer system for the funding of care and support to ensure equal access around the country, the Commission on Funding of Care and Support has announced.

Publishing the results of its ‘Call for Evidence' the Commission's chair, Andrew Dilnot, said there was considerable backing for a partnership model – where both the state and the individual share responsibility. Respondents also called for national guidelines on assessment and eligibility.

Respondents said such a system would give people clarity over what they can expect from the state and put an end to the current situation where many face a ‘postcode lottery'. They also called for extra resources to cope with increasing demand and unmet need.

The ‘Call for Evidence' was launched last December and formed part of the Commission's wider engagement work. More than 250 individuals and organisations responded, including local authorities, financial services, third sector organisations and think tanks.

Andrew Dilnot said: "The input and insights of these individuals and organisations are critical to our work to find a fair and sustainable solution on how we fund care and support. What has shone through is that there is a real enthusiasm to engage with this subject and I am encouraged by the number of responses we received. It is these experiences and the need for change that spur the Commission on. There will be no ‘easy answers' but it is clear that people want a simplified system with greater clarity so they can plan and prepare for their future care needs. Whilst there are some who would still like to see free care, we can see a growing understanding that a truly sustainable solution is going to come from responsibility being shared between the individual and the state.”

Other issues raised through the responses include the need for:

• More effective working between health and social care services;
• More information and support to help people plan and prepare;
• A national framework for assessment and eligibility,
with flexibility in delivery of services; and
• Better recognition of the contribution of carers.


The Commission is due to report back to the Government by the end of July 2011 with its recommendations.

A report, summarising the responses received from the ‘Call for Evidence' is published today on the Commission's website HERE