Poll points to public support for free care

Two-thirds of the public believe older people should not pay for
nursing or personal care services.

In a poll conducted for the health care charity King’s Fund, the
majority of voters supported the Royal Commission on Long Term Care
for the Elderly’s recommendation that people with long-term
conditions should not be means-tested whether they are receiving
care at home or in a nursing home.

Health minister John Hutton said the government had decided to
spend money on improving the range of services available to older
people to ensure they recover quickly and avoid unnecessary
admission into care homes.

“But we can’t spend the same money twice. Making this investment
in better health and social services will improve the health of
hundreds of thousands of people in future. This has to be the right
priority,” he added.

Poll at www.kingsfund.org.uk