Key feature
Free local authority care, indefinitely, for those with ‘critical’ care needs
Criticism raised against the Bill:
1. Insufficient consideration of impact and consequences - - allegedly to ‘rush through’ before General Election
2. Optimistic assessment of ‘efficiency savings’ - as care services are having to commit to make 4% efficiency savings while government expects them to resource additional home care
3. Cost estimates by government are incomplete
4. The free care for some will be envied by those who only just fall outside the free criteria, fuelling demand for changes to the threshold for free care.
5. It is a tactical response when long term solutions are needed
6. It only benefits a relatively small number of people