The Independent Care Group has backed a Liberal Democrat pledge to ensure social care does not get forgotten again.
ICG Chair Mike Padgham said: “It is vital that we avoid what happened under the last Conservative government, when the care of older, vulnerable and disabled adults was forgotten as politicians concentrate on more headline-grabbing issues.
“We welcome the pledge by the Liberal Democrat leader that he will join us in holding the Government to account on social care.
“If the Government is serious about saving and reforming the NHS, as we trust they are, they cannot do so without saving and reforming social care.”
The words come after Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey told his party conference today that “care and carers must not be forgotten and ignored any longer”.
He attacked both the Conservatives and the new Labour administration for failing to make social care a priority at the General Election. And he urged the Government not to make the same mistakes the Conservatives had and to act faster and be bolder, especially to avoid future winter crises.
Mr Padgham added: “When it comes to social care that has to be sound advice. The Conservatives did nothing for social care and the crisis in the sector and the problems in the NHS deepened. We cannot let the new Government do the same – we have to make sure they act faster and are bold in their reform.
“Mr Davey is right in his rejection of short-term measures. We need to invest in the long-term future of social care and the NHS. Money invested in social care supports the NHS by keeping people out of hospital. Invest now, save social care and save the NHS.”
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