Minister calls for views on social care and support

Message from the Care Service Minister

Everyone talks about climate change being one of the biggest problems we face. I believe demographic change is just as big an issue for the UK. Right now, there are six million people looking after a relative or friend who needs to be supported for a decent quality of life. The challenge is to decide where the responsibility will lie in the future between the state, the family and the individual.

In 20 years time a quarter of the population of the UK will be over 65 and the number of people over 85 will have doubled, so we need to decide now how the care and support system must adapt. The current system is simply not sustainable.

A national debate on the future of Care and Support was announced by the Prime Minister in May and we intend to publish a Green Paper on a new care and support system in early 2009. Care and support is about the activities, services and relationships that help people remain independent, active and healthy.

We want to hear people’s views on how we can create a high quality, affordable system in a way that promotes independence, choice and control for everyone. I urge people to get involved - the debate affects us all.

If you want to contribute your views to the debate on the future of care and support, log on to the website at www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk

Ivan Lewis, Care Service Minister, Department of Health