Minister McGovern Outlines Plans for National Care Service at NCASC Conference

Minister McGovern delivered a speech at the NCASC conference in Liverpool, highlighting the government's commitment to building a National Care Service. She noted the increasing demand for adult social care due to an aging population, with the number of people aged 65 and over expected to reach 18 million by 2050, and those aged 85 and over to double.

McGovern emphasized the financial strain on councils, with nearly a fifth resorting to exceptional financial support in the past five years. She pointed out that the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts health spending to increase to 13% of GDP by 2075, and stressed the need for a sustainable model of health and social care.

The Minister outlined plans to commission homecare on a neighborhood basis, aiming to improve continuity of care and reduce the time spent traveling between visits. She cited the example of Walsall, where redesigning the use of Better Care Fund resources led to a 26% reduction in delayed hospital discharges. McGovern also highlighted the potential for neighborhood homecare commissioning to reduce workforce time capacity and mileage, as demonstrated by modeling in Bristol.

McGovern announced that the government will be implementing free personal care for older people, funded by reforming the triple lock, and plans to publish materials supporting the shift to neighborhood homecare early next year. She concluded by reaffirming the government's commitment to working with social care providers to build the National Care Service and improve care for older people.