New minister will argue for more resources

The new care services minister has promised to argue for more
resources in next year’s comprehensive spending review to
deliver the adult green paper, writes Mithran
Samuel.

Speaking at Community Care Live after just eight days in office,
Liam Byrne put pay to the green paper’s contentious claims
that its provisions are cost neutral.

Responding to a question dismissing the cost neutrality claims,
he said: “That’s what the Department of Health will be
arguing about with the Treasury in the next spending review and
there are all sorts of cost pressures.”

His comments will encourage many in the sector who believe that
the green paper’s call for more personalised and preventive
services, alongside demographic changes, will significantly
increase the demand on social care` budgets.