Devon Lib Dems Call on the Government to Put Social Care at the Heart of New Health Bill

The release of the government's white paper setting out legislative proposals that will result in profound changes to the provision of health care is only a small step in the right direction since it has failed to lay out a substantial plan for social care, despite consistent calls for reform.

Devon Liberal Democrats are calling for legislation on the funding of social care as a matter of urgency, as well as increasing the role of public health in preventing illness.

Devon Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson and local NHS consultant surgeon, Prof John Timperley, said:

"Whilst meaningful integration of health and social care is an absolute priority, the government has yet again failed to address the long standing issue of the funding of Adult Social Care.

"Less than ten years ago, the Cameron government sponsored the disastrous Health and Social Care Act. This new Health Bill is a categorical admission of the failure of the last reorganisation which imposed an internal market and need for competitive tendering.

"The current white paper is a power grab by the secretary of state who seeks to "set the direction of the NHS and intervene when necessary". We know the mess the politicians made of the last re-organisation. The last thing this country needs is more centralised power for politicians to interfere with front-line care."