Green paper ‘weak’ on cost of reforms

Claims that reforms to adult social care will be cost neutral are
unrealistic, leading figures in local government and social care
have warned.

Stephen Burke, chief executive of Counsel and Care, told the
charity’s conference last week that the adult green paper was
“weak” on how the reforms would be delivered.

Emphasising the current underfunding of adult social care detailed
in a recent King’s Fund report (news, 30 June), he hoped the
forthcoming Wanless Review would provide a “powerful cost-benefit
analysis” for greater investment.

Seamus Breen, part of the Department of Health’s green paper
consultation team, focused on the radical nature of the paper but
acknowledged there had been a lack of clarity about “how we can put
a price” on the reforms.

David Rogers, chair of the Local Government Association’s community
well-being board, echoed the financial concerns and also said a new
risk assessment framework would need to be developed.