Marie Curie responds to the Labour party’s announcement on free personal care for the over 65s

Simon Jones, Director of Policy and Public Affairs said:

“Today’s announcement recognises the fact that there is much to do to fix our broken social care system. We need all political parties to commit to fixing it and providing free personal care is an important part of that fix. Helping people to be cared for at home means fewer stressful and preventable emergency admissions and will reduce the pressure on hospital services, allowing more people to be where they want to be towards the end of their lives.

“It is critical, however, that all people are able to benefit from affordable, high-quality personal care at the end of their lives – not just those over the age of 65. Too often, terminally ill people and their families can also be left waiting for weeks or months to get social care – or face exhausting their life savings paying for care. Many will die waiting for the social care they need unless free personal care is extended to all terminally ill people regardless of their age.”