Thousands face digging into their children’s inheritance to pay for social care says the head of the NHS
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Thousands of people face digging into their children’s inheritance to solve the social care crisis, the head of the NHS has signalled.
Simon Stevens warned wealthier people are “almost bound to” have to use their assets to fund their care in future.
And the NHS England chief executive suggested more could take up the option of paying by selling their homes after they die.
His comments come as Theresa May prepares to unveil a major blueprint this year for long-term funding of the NHS.
MPs are demanding a similar long-term plan for cash-starved social care, which puts pressure on hospitals when frail inpatients have nowhere to go.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has suggested a dedicated NHS tax rise, paid by all, could be one solution.
But Mr Stevens warned such a hike for social care would be a “difficult argument to win”.
(Image: PA)
He MPs told the Commons Health and Social Care Committee: “When we look at the question of whether working age adults should see their taxes go up in an unbalalnced way relative to the accumulated housing assets that our parents’ generation have, I think that would be a difficult argument to win.
“So I think the principle that where people have got resources, then that needs to form part of the funding answer, is almost bound to be part of a sustainable solution - given the implications otherwise for general taxation.”
He said it was for government to decide, adding swiftly: “Frankly that’s straying way beyond my brief.”
Mr Stevens also suggested more people could be charged for their care through a deferred payment on property assets after they die.
He told MPs “we obviously have a mechanism that is not as widely used as it could be”, adding: “I think that is potentially part of an answer.”
Asked if he backed a general social care tax on all older people’s assets, not just those needing care, Mr Stevens said: “I don’t have a point of view on that.
“That’s obviously one of the answers that some people have proposed.”
But he added the current means test on social care, which cuts away residents’ assets until they have £23,250 left, was “very hard”.
Mr Stevens warned 18,000 of England’s 100,000 NHS hospital beds have had the same occupant “stuck” in them for three weeks or more - equal to 36 acute hospitals.
“A lot of that is attributable to difficulties getting discharged and the social care support people need,” he said.
The 18,000 figure is not all “bed-blocking” as it includes all hospital patients.
(Image: Getty Images)
But it comes after the Mirror revealed winter bed-blocking hit 220 at one hospital alone, Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.
Mr Stevens added: “Fundamentally the pressures are really being experienced for frail older people.
“We’re an ageing country. That shows up both in terms of the support people have in their own homes, it shows up in the availability of high-quality care home places where people need it.”
Mr Stevens said he opposed a full national integration of NHS and social care funding, saying: “Putting two leaky funding buckets together doesn’t make a watertight health and care service.”
On a local level, he said integration had “improved significantly” but added: “It takes two to tango and both dance partners are getting closer to each other, but we’re not yet ready for Strictly.”