Age UK welcomes care reform commission

Age UK welcomes commission on care reform in Queen's Speech

Michelle Mitchell, Age UK Charity Director, said:

"We welcome the announcement of a commission on long-term care reform in today's Queen's Speech. Reform is urgently needed as the current care system is starved of funding, too few people receive services and the quality of care can be poor.

"Although we recognise the urgency of cutting the budget deficit and the likelihood of spending cuts across public services, the new Government must guarantee protection of existing national and local care budgets in next month's emergency budget so that the crisis does not deepen any further. Future cuts would have devastating consequences on people's lives and drive up demand for emergency healthcare.

"We welcome today's announcements on reducing health inequalities. As part of this, we urge the Government to look at a whole-system review of the implications of ageing for the NHS, aiming at improving public health into late old age and reconfiguring services around people in later life."

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors

Age UK is the new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged. We will be known by our new name from Spring 2010. The Age UK family includes Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI.

Media contact: Stefano Gelmini
Tel: 020 8765 7514
Out of hours: 07071 243 243