Overhaul of care and support for adults and older people in England: ACT and Children’s Hospices UK urge members to raise awareness for life-limited children as they make the transition to adult services

On Monday 12th May the government launched a six-month public consultation asking for views on the future of care and support for adults and older people in England.  Overhauling this system is urgently needed in order to meet the needs of a rapidly ageing population. An online public consultation is now open and over the next six months the government will be asking the public and key stakeholders for their views at a series of regional events across England.  Government says they will ask for views about care and support to create a system that:

·    Promotes independence and choice and control for everyone who uses the care and support system.

·    Ensures everyone can receive the high quality care and support they need, and that government support should be targeted at the most in need.

·    Is affordable for government, individuals and families in the long term.

Although this consultation will focus on older people, we want to highlight that it is also about care and support for adults and both ACT and Children’s Hospices UK want to ensure that the needs of young people with life-limiting conditions and disabilities who will make the transition to adult services are represented.
 

It is essential that these young people are planned for, and that government recognises that more of these young people are living longer and will need to access care and support from adult services.  We also need to raise awareness of the need to accurately map children and young people with palliative care needs in order to affectively plan for the future.

ACT and Children’s Hospices UK will be writing a joint response to the consultation and we will share this with members as soon as this has been prepared.  The consultation is open between 12 May and November 2008, and the findings will used to inform a Green Paper – anticipated in 2009.

ACT and Children’s Hospices UK are calling on members to join the debate and share your views with government. Please also encourage families and young people to add their views in too.  You can find out more and submit your views by visiting: www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk  

You will be ask to add your views to three key issues: improving care and support; paying for care and support; and delivering care and support. You can also register online for updates about the debate.