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The King's Fund responds to Theresa May's announcement on social care costs

Commenting on yesterday’s announcement by Theresa May on social care costs, Chris Ham, Chief Executive of The King’s Fund, said: ‘We welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement that the Green Paper later this year will include a proposal for a cap on social care costs as a way of limiting the catastrophic costs individuals may incur.

‘The Green Paper should be used as an opportunity to achieve greater intergenerational equity. As the Barker Commission argued in its 2014 report on a new health and care settlement, current and future generations of pensioners should contribute more to the cost of a new settlement through tax and National Insurance.

‘A single health and care system, paid for through a mix of public and private funding, is essential to tackle the unfairness of existing arrangements, and to overcome a lottery of care based on diagnosis rather than need. Raising some of the funding required by tapping into the wealth in people’s property should be part of a new approach to funding. A coherent and considered review of all the options is needed instead of future policy being determined by election deadlines.’

Notes to editors: 

The King's Fund is an independent charity working to improve health and care in England. We help to shape policy and practice through research and analysis; develop individuals, teams and organisations; promote understanding of the health and social care system; and bring people together to learn, share knowledge and debate. Our vision is that the best possible health and care is available to all.

For further information, or to request an interview, please contact the Press and Public Affairs team on 020 7307 2585 (or 07584 146 035 if calling out of hours).

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