BBC NEWS | Health | Tories pledge free long-term care

BBC NEWS | Health | Tories pledge free long-term care: "BBC NEWS
Tories pledge free long-term care
Elderly and disabled people who financed their own long-term care for three years would receive free care after that, the Tories have pledged.

Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary, launched the Conservatives' policy on Thursday.

He said it would mean that nobody would be forced to sell their home in order to finance their care.

The pledge comes as a Health Service Ombudsman report criticises the current funding system.

Under a Conservative Government no one would be forced to sell their home to finance their long-term care.
Andrew Lansley
Campaigners have long condemned the fact that the current arrangements have forced many elderly and disabled patients to sell their own homes to pay for services.

Full NHS continuing care funding covers accommodation costs and all care needs.

But it is only available to those with 'complex, intense or unpredictable' nursing needs, and who have limited personal assets.

Decisions on who qualifies for this funding vary across the country, with each strategic health authority (SHA) having its own criteria.

The Ombudsman report says many patients applying for funding for long-term care face a lengthy 'hit-and-miss' process.

It calls for national minimum eligibility criteria to make sure that all those that need help receive it.

Respite care promise

Mr Lansley said the Tories would reform the current system.

He promised to set up a review into all long-term regulations on the first day of a Tory administration.

He also promised measures to boost short-term respite care available to relieve the pressure on carers.

This would enable more carers to continue supporting loved ones at home.

Mr Lansley said: 'Labour has failed to address the issue of Britain's long-term care crisis.

'Since 1997, 250,000 people have sold their homes to pay care home bill"