Care Support Independence

Shaping the future of care and support and promoting national dignity

Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis will visit Leicester today as part of a national tour to ensure that all people using care and health services are treated with respect at all times.

He will also hear views from local experts on shaping the future of the care and support system. In the next 20 years the number of people over 85 in the East Midlands will increase by 34,800 and the number of people over 65 will increase by 180,400.

The debate on the future of care and support involves stakeholders, including local councillors, representatives from local authorities, the NHS and third sector joining the Minister to discuss their views on how best to develop a system for care and support that meets the needs of society well into the future.

The tour, which will visit every region in England, aims to raise the profile of the Dignity in Care campaign, and to continue the debate on the future of the care and support system launched by the Prime Minister in May.

The Dignity in Care Campaign, launched by Ivan Lewis last year, aims to inspire and equip people to drive up care standards and encourage people to become Dignity Champions, spreading best practice and giving advice to other health and social care workers.

The Government wants to double the number of dignity champions to more than 3000 by the end of the year and has recently appointed Sir Michael Parkinson as the first National Dignity Ambassador to help raise the profile of this important agenda.

Ivan Lewis said: “I am pleased to discuss two of the most important issues facing society – how to promote dignity in care for all elderly people and how we create a high quality, affordable care and support system for a rapidly ageing population.

“People want, and have a right to expect, services with dignity and respect at their heart. We’ve invested £117 million to help, but this isn’t just about money. I want NHS and Social Care services to apply a simple test - if it wouldn't be good enough for my mother and father why should it be good enough for someone else's?

“In 20 years’ time a quarter of the entire adult population will be over 65 and the number of people over 85 will have doubled. We expect over 1.7 million more people to have care and support needs in 20 years time.

“I also want to hear views on how we provide a care and support system for the future that promotes independence, choice and control for everyone.

“This tour highlights our commitment to put patient dignity and respect at the heart of care services and to create a care and support system that meets the needs of our ageing population and their families.”

Notes to Editors:

A national debate on the future of care and support was announced by the Prime Minister on 12 May.

People can contribute to this debate in the following ways:

1. Via one of the stakeholder or public events

2. Via our website www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk

3. By emailing careandsupport@dh.gsi.gov.uk 4. Be writing to Care and Support Team, Room 543, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2NS