ADASS responds to Times Health Commission Report

Responding to the Times Health Commission report published today, ADASS joint chief executive, Anna Hemmings said:

“This report makes clear the key role that quality, reliable social care must play to improve our health and wellbeing today and for future generations. The Commission has come up with range of constructive proposals, many in common with ideas we set out in our Roadmap report on transforming care published last year.

We agree with the Commission’s proposal that we establish national standards and end the postcode lottery for care and support, backed up with a long-term investment and plan. We need to make sure everyone can access affordable care, when they need it.

We welcome the focus on shifting care from hospital to community. We want to enable more people to live independently at home, with the care and support they need to live the way they want, avoiding a crisis point which could lead them to need hospital or residential care.

Finding the balance between locally delivered care that responds to the needs of each community and consistent quality of care nationally will be critical. Alongside this, harnessing the power of technology will be important in making faster progress towards providing care that genuinely responds to each individuals’ needs.  Importantly, the people working in social care must be paid fairly for the vital work they do, so we agree with the Commission’s call for them to be paid the same as NHS workers doing similar roles.”