Battle of Priorities: Lib Dems Propose Free Personal Care to End Hospital Crisis as Tories Push for Migration Cap

Liberal Democrats vow to resolve healthcare issues through no-cost personal services, while Conservatives emphasize limiting immigration

Sir Ed Davey asserts that his party's £2.7 billion initiative will address the problems in social care and provide "dignity" to the elderly. On the other hand, Rishi Sunak pledges decisive measures to reduce immigration numbers.

Political journalist @NifS

Monday, June 3, 2024, 19:

The Liberal Democrats are promising to provide complimentary personal care to "everyone who requires it" as part of their social care proposal during their campaign.

The party is set to declare on Tuesday that its proposal could resolve the ongoing hospital crisis by facilitating the discharge of thousands of individuals who are currently bed-bound in hospitals and require care, and it would also assist older adults in remaining in their homes for an extended period.

The Liberal Democrats highlighted findings from an Age UK study indicating that around 1.6 million individuals over the age of 65 suffer from unaddressed care requirements. Additionally, data from April shows that on average, 12,772 hospital beds each day were occupied by patients who could have been discharged.

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Leader Sir Ed Davey stated, "Having been a caregiver for my disabled son and previously for my sick mother during my younger years, the issue of care is profoundly personal to me. This is why addressing the care crisis is central to the Liberal Democrat's proposals to the nation in this election."

All too frequently, family caregivers find themselves having to compensate for shortcomings in the care system that fails to support them. Countless individuals are deprived of necessary care, while many others remain hospitalized rather than receiving care in their own homes or in residential care facilities.

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"To address the challenges confronting the NHS, we must also resolve the issues plaguing social care. The Liberal Democrats propose implementing complimentary personal care to assist individuals in living independently and with dignity, preferably in their own homes."

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Universal personal care would encompass assistance with nursing, mobility, personal hygiene, and managing medications, accessible to individuals whether they reside at home or in a care facility. However, those opting for care home services would continue to pay for their living expenses.

The Liberal Democrats calculate that the initiative would have an annual cost of £2.7 billion. They propose that this amount could be funded by undoing the tax reductions for the banking industry previously implemented by the Conservative party. They also argue that this policy could alleviate strains on the NHS, potentially saving up to £3 billion.

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On Tuesday, the Conservative Party plans to announce a yearly limit on immigration numbers.

The political group has implemented several strategies aimed at decreasing the influx of legal immigrants following a surge to unprecedented heights in net migration over the last couple of years.

It now states that a cap will be imposed.

The specifics of the cap remain undefined, as the Conservatives have stated their plan to consult the Migration Advisory Committee for a suggested number before submitting it to parliament for approval.

However, Mr. Sunak stated, "The Conservatives are the sole party prepared to undertake the decisive measures required to reduce immigration numbers."

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Mr. Sunak and Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer are anticipated to use Tuesday to get ready for the inaugural leaders' debate scheduled for that evening on ITV.

Before the event takes place, Sir Keir is set to engage with elderly individuals to talk about how increasing energy prices are affecting them, while pledging that Labour's proposal for Great British Energy will "shut out Putin."

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