Care cap plans are a:- "care con," says Bill Esterson MP

SEDTON Central MP Bill Esterson MP has called the social care cap a:- "care con not a care plan" after it was revealed that many people will still be forced to sell their homes to pay for care despite Government promises to the contrary. Mr Esterson said that the Conservatives had promised in their last manifesto that no 1 would have to sell their home to pay for care. But it has now been revealed that any care fees paid by a Local Authority toward care will not count toward the new cap, therefore those on lower incomes still face having to sell their homes if they can't meet the ₤86,000 cap any other way.  

Mr Esterson said:- "This is not a care plan. It's a care con. It's a betrayal from the Government. An ₤86,000 cap can be far more easily met by wealthier people whereas those with fewer assets will still be forced to sell their homes as they will have no other way to meet the costs. We have in our society an understanding that those with the broadest shoulders should pay their fair share. No 1 should have to sell their home to meet their social care costs, and that's what the Conservatives promised in their manifesto just 2 years ago. But under the plan put forward by the Conservative Government, many people will still have to sell their home, and it is the less well off who will be more likely to have to. It rips up the social contract which we all understand to mean the wealthiest should pay their fair share. This ill thought out Conservative scheme costs those less well off proportionately far more than the wealthy." 

According to Labour, the UK Government's proposed changes to social care funding would mean that from October 2023, no 1 will have to contribute more than ₤86,000 toward their care costs. But that doesn't include:- food and accommodation. These won't be counted towards the cap and can be tens of thousands of pounds or even hundreds of thousands of pounds more. The claim that the only help with personal care, including:- dressing, washing, going to the toilet and eating will count toward the cap.  Those with assets worth up to ₤100,000 will qualify for some Local Authority help, but any fees paid by the Local Authority will not count toward the cap on care costs. 

Mr Esterson said:- "My constituents who spend the full ₤86,000 on care costs will often have contributed at least the same amount to:- 'hotel' costs if living in residential care if not significantly more. It means people whose home is worth anywhere up to ₤250,000 or more could have to sell their home. That includes tens of thousands of my constituents. The Conservative plan means the less wealthy will be far more likely to need to sell their homes to pay for their care, as they will have no other way to fund their care. Labour opposes the plan to force the poorest to pay more for social are, and we oppose many other parts of the Health and Care Bill that will bring in the care cap. It cannot be right that people in:- Crosby, Formby, Maghull, Aintree and Melling who own their own homes will end up having to sell their homes to go into care because the rules dreamt up by this Government discriminate against people in constituencies like mine. Yet that is precisely what the Conservatives are planning to do, breaking the promise they made in their election manifesto that no 1 will have to sell their own home. Labour would stop this unfair plan to make people sell their home and we would stop private companies having a say in how the NHS is run. We would also stop crony contracts and the sell off of our GP services to US corporations. Labour opposes the power grab from the Health Secretary who would be able to interfere in the day to day running of the NHS. Labour wants to see patient safety and the reduction of waiting lists prioritised, and we want a credible long term workforce strategy to be put in place so that our health and care services can run properly and look after the people of our country."

LGA responds to ADCS figures on home education

RESPONDING to annual figures from the Association of Directors of Children Services, that showed a rise in the number of children receiving home education, Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Chair of the Local Government Association's Children and Young People Board, said on Wednesday, 24 November 2021:- "Disruption to School education due to the Pandemic has accelerated already rising numbers of parents and carers choosing to home educate their children. Although most parents and carers provide a good home education, the LGA is concerned that the Pandemic has led to increasing numbers of children receiving education outside the classroom and missing out on the benefits that a School environment brings, such as safeguarding and learning and socialising with other children. While parents, carers, Councils and Schools all have responsibilities to ensure that children receive suitable education, some significant gaps in legislation mean that it is possible for children to slip through the net and be exposed to serious risks by not being in full time education. To tackle these issues, Councils need powers to enter the homes of, or otherwise see, children in order to establish whether they are receiving a suitable education. The Government should bring forward its plans to introduce a register for all home educators to ensure that adequate safeguarding measures are in place. As well as these important measures, Councils also need the resources to better identify children not receiving a suitable education and intervene if they are being taught in unsuitable or dangerous environments."

'Absolutely devastating' - PCC responds to 2 murder investigations in Liverpool

FOLLOWING the tragic deaths of 2 women in Liverpool, Merseyside's Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell has said:- "It is absolutely devastating to hear the news this morning of 2 lives lost in our City, a 47 year old woman and 12 year old Ava White. My deepest sympathies go out to all the families affected by these horrific incidents. Merseyside Police have launched 2 murder investigations and made a number of arrests in connection with both incidents. I will continue to monitor the investigations and would urge any members of the public with information about either incident to please contact Police on:- 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on:- 0800555111. We have recently marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, and this morning we wake up to the tragic news that 2 women have been murdered. No one should be in any doubt that there is an epidemic of violence against women and girls in Merseyside and across the country. We must all work together to root out misogyny, violence, and abuse to keep women and girls safe. It breaks my heart to think that a young girl has lost her life because of an act of senseless violence in our community. There is clearly more work to be done to tackle serious violence and keep our communities safe. This responsibility falls on all of us. Myself, Merseyside Police, our partners and all our communities across Merseyside. If anyone has been affected, there is support available via my Victim Care Merseyside service:- VictimCareMerseyside.Org."

Hospice Flat fire results in fatality in Aintree

ON Sunday, 28 November 2021, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) attended a fire at Woodlands Care Home, within the Brook View facility situated on the Aintree University Hospital campus, on Longmoor Lane, Aintree. We are told that fire crews were alerted at:- 10.23am and on scene at:- 10.28am, after a fire was reported in a flat, within the building. 3 fire engines were sent to the scene. Sadly, it was confirmed that the incident had resulted in the death of a male.

MFRS told us that:- "Crews arrived to find 1 resident already outside the building suffering from smoke inhalation. North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) were at the scene to provide medical treatment. After reports of a person still being inside, firefighters immediately proceeded to the flat and gained entry, with 4 firefighters wearing breathing apparatus fighting the fire with a high pressure hose reel and searching the flat for occupants. The fire was extinguished rapidly, however during their search, firefighters discovered the body of a man at the property. The deceased's next of kin have been informed by Merseyside Police and are being supported by a family liaison officer. Firefighters remained to check for any fire spread, ensure the whereabouts and safety of other residents and ventilate the area. 3 members of hospice staff were treated by NWAS at the scene for light smoke inhalation with 1 of those staff being taken to Hospital for precautionary checks."

It has also been confirmed that a joint investigation is now taking place with the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Merseyside Police to establish what happened.