Government to Publish Green Paper on Care & Support by Summer 2018

18/01/2018

Image Source: GOV.UK 

A Green Paper is a preliminary report of government proposals that is published in order to provoke discussion. This particular Green Paper, outlines the plans that the government intend to implement in order to address the UK’s current ageing population and improve the care and support that the older generation receives.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS), have declared that today, a new born baby boy can expect to live to 79.2 years and a new born baby girl 82.9 years. It also stated that a male born in 2014 to 2016 had a 21% chance, and a female a 32% chance, of surviving to at least age 90. Because of this, the UK government have agreed that a sustainable solution needs to be constructed that will ensure older people can receive the care that they need.

In an attempt to get the ball rolling on this, the government has teamed up with some independent experts such as Age UK, and different stakeholders to conjure up the reforms that they will propose in the Green Paper. 

According to GOV.UK, the proposals within the Green Paper will be in addition to the extra £2billion over the next 3 years that the government will provide to ensure that the UK’s social care needs are met. This will also help stabilise the social care provider market and reduce the well documented pressure on the NHS.

Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Health has said:  “We are committed to reforming social care to ensure we can guarantee everyone dignity and security in old age. It is important we consider a wide variety of views on the future of the social care system – as our ageing population continues to grow it is absolutely vital that we get this right.”

Once the Green Paper is published in summer 2018, it will be subject to a full public consultation.

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