NHS - Cradle to Grave?

The Government is in self congratulatory mood over Social Care after the announcement of a new strategy for caring for our elderly. They circumvent the fact that they have yet again appointed an independent person, Andrew Dilnott, to review the shambles that currently exists, only to igore his main recommendations. What on earth is the point of having an independent review if you don't impliment it's findings & delay implimentation of your own alternative for 6 years? By that time all of the maths will be irrelevant.

It is welcome that the amount an individual has to spend on nursing care will be £75,000, allowable assets will increase to £123,000, & payment for accommodation & food will be capped at £12,500 a year. This generation bought into & has paid into a system of healthcare which guaranteed healthcare, free at the point of need, to everyone. The demographic of the "Baby Boomer" generation has been known for decades, but sucessive governments did nothing to tackle it. If you get on the bus & pay your fare to the terminus, you don't expect to be thrown off before your journey ends.

The fundamental question is what is nursing care? The elderly often have multiple, chronic, incapacitating, conditions as well as more serious illnesses. If you can't feed yourself, dress yourself , go to the toilet unaided or reliably take your medication, I would argue that is nursing care, not just for the elderly, but for anyone of any age. Do we really need a hierarchy of conditions & a cut off somewhere? It is no longer reasonable to expect that care to be provided by the family, if you are lucky enough to have one.

There is very little dignity in being sick or getting old. We can afford to care for sick people whatever their age. We should have a discussion about what the NHS should not pay for, such as meals - It is perfectly possible to make a "hotel" charge for hospital stays. People who chose to take part in dangerous activities or holiday abroad should have to take out insurance & pay for their care. We also need a discussion on what is cosmetic or elective surgery. I can see no reason why, if a patient choses to have medication which is not routinely prescribed, they should not pay the difference. Perhaps more contentiously, I remain to be convinced that free fertility treatment is a right. I also am ambivalent about people who knowingly jeopardise their own health through addictions for example. I do feel they should at least be able to show that they have tried to tackle the root cause of their condition, before expensive healthcare is undertaken. I would, however, expect them to get up to date advice & support to enable them to tackle the problem.

This is a complex area. It demands a real dialogue because it affects everyone. Politicians need to stop being so lilly livered & make the right decisions not the decisions they think will get them re-elected.