Do you know what’s proposed in the forthcoming Health and Care Bill? Are you as worried as I am?

Was there any mention of NHS dental services? We’ll soon be going back to giving young women a total tooth extraction and a set of dentures to make them more marriageable. What amazes me is that a Conservative government is meant to be a ‘Conservative’ government and yet they’re getting rid of so many of the things we hold dear in this country. And nobody seems to notice or care.

grannyactivist

GillT57

growstuff

The OP isn't about the social care cap. It's about the restructuring of the NHS, which nobody seems to have addressed.

and still, nobody is taking any notice. I truly despair sometimes.

And this is why I’m worried………! ?

So am I!

To repeat - the Health and Care Bill isn't about the separate issue of paying for social care.

It's about restructuring the NHS and paving the way for selling it off (although, of course, the foundations of a sell off have already been laid).

Teacher Anne, could you not become tenants in common with your children.

Even the fact that the debate and vote was done late at night gives me the creeps. And hidden by a more newsworthy Peppa Pig story….it’s like we’re living in a dystopian future isn’t it….

GillT57

growstuff

The OP isn't about the social care cap. It's about the restructuring of the NHS, which nobody seems to have addressed.

and still, nobody is taking any notice. I truly despair sometimes.

And this is why I’m worried………! ?

Sawsage2

Im 72 with health issues. I sold my house last year and rented one, which I love. Will give cash from the house sale to who I want when I want. I don't know if there's a better way.

Be very careful about this, especially if you have health issues. If, at some point, you need full time care, the local authority may see what you’ve done as disposal of assets - they can refuse to fund your care and can even go after the people you have given money to.

Just been thinking about this. (wouldn’t it be nice to wake up one day and think, ‘what shall I do today’ other than ‘what are the government sneaking through now’)

There’s a lot going on under the radar. A consultation has just closed on further reform of disability benefits and it’s frightening for anyone who relies on them. If the Tories have their way, disability support will be a thing of the past, as the reforms will render almost no one eligible. If they were proposing to include child benefit in similar reforms there would be outrage.

We were warned about this by the previous leader of the Labour party, but no one took any notice. We were assured by Tories that the NHS was safe with the Tories.
So people voted for the party that never wanted the NHS in the first place.
Now we have to live with that.

growstuff

The OP isn't about the social care cap. It's about the restructuring of the NHS, which nobody seems to have addressed.

and still, nobody is taking any notice. I truly despair sometimes.

Just been thinking about this. (wouldn’t it be nice to wake up one day and think, ‘what shall I do today’ other than ‘what are the government sneaking through now’).It was the Conservative Party that encouraged people to buy their own homes, sold off council houses, didn’t build new ones. I know when my dad had Alzheimer’s I assumed he would go into a council ran home only to find there weren’t any. As he had no savings and lived in a council flat it took ages to arrange funding for a private home and I was threatened with prosecution at one time because they hadn’t been paid. It never occurred to us, when we bought our first home, that it would be to pay for our health care when we got old. Is this some kind of long term plan? What happens in Europe where many more people rent rather than buy? What didn’t the SNP vote against the bill? Weren’t they allowed to as it didn’t affect Scotland? I assume people with enough money can still have their medical procedures done quickly if the go private. So many questions about this…..

We’ve done the same Barmyoldbat we’re now tenants in common after advice although I must say our assets are for our benefit-I can’t understand all this fuss about hanging onto houses to pass on to children-your assets are for your care IMHO.
I do agree about the NHS-have just had to pay £35 (eventually!) to have wax removed from my ear. Service, quick and easy before, no longer provided by GP practice!
12 week waiting list for knee X-ray! Instead of GP giving you a form to take to X-ray department!

The OP isn't about the social care cap. It's about the restructuring of the NHS, which nobody seems to have addressed.

Barmeyoldbat

Mr B and I have become tenants in common with our house. This allows us to leave our half share in the house to whoever, our son in this case. So if one of us goes into care they can only use half the value of the property for finance. If one of us dies then the property is half owned by our son and still only a half share can be used for finance. Better than losing all. Before anyone comes back and tells me it’s immoral than I would say no more than people hiding money so as not to pay tax or the large firms paying little or no tax. MPs tax expenses etc are another one. No I don’t think this bill is fair as only the rich will gain.

I don’t think it’s wrong to make this provision when you are married, but it is unfair that single home owners cannot do the same to have half the value our homes discounted if we go into care.

I review my finances with an adviser every year and when my funds allow, I give some money to my children, not huge amounts of tens of thousands of pounds but enough to be a surprise bonus for them with their first house purchases.

Mind you, I bought a new car this year so I hope they are not expecting an extra Christmas present this year! Only joking, my children are very independent and always tell me I don’t need to give them anything as they want me to spend it on myself!

The Health and Care Bill isn't about social care.

GillT57

While we are all being distracted with who benefits and who doesn't from the proposed care home fees proposals a far more important bill is being slipped through. Basically,the NHS will be split into 42 area bodies and on the board of each of these bodies will be companies providing private medical services. There will also no longer be the necessity to go to tender for provision of health services. Witn all due respect to those concerned about care home fees,this is serious and will impact everyone.

That’s what I mentioned at the start of the thread: it was something I was told on Facebook. To be honest the government are trying to slip through so many awful things I lose track of what they’re up to….

Mr B and I have become tenants in common with our house. This allows us to leave our half share in the house to whoever, our son in this case. So if one of us goes into care they can only use half the value of the property for finance. If one of us dies then the property is half owned by our son and still only a half share can be used for finance. Better than losing all. Before anyone comes back and tells me it’s immoral than I would say no more than people hiding money so as not to pay tax or the large firms paying little or no tax. MPs tax expenses etc are another one. No I don’t think this bill is fair as only the rich will gain.

While we are all being distracted with who benefits and who doesn't from the proposed care home fees proposals a far more important bill is being slipped through. Basically,the NHS will be split into 42 area bodies and on the board of each of these bodies will be companies providing private medical services. There will also no longer be the necessity to go to tender for provision of health services. Witn all due respect to those concerned about care home fees,this is serious and will impact everyone.

I’ve emailed my MP, again, for what good it will do in her safe Tory seat. Her responses to my previous letters on an assortment of topics are bland and just follow the party line!
I’ve worked as a nurse ??‍⚕️ n and outside the NHS for over 40 years and it’s very dear to my heart. I’m tired of constant political meddling.

It’s our service and should be run for our needs. It’s been chipped away over the years regarding dental care, eye care, prescriptions and the fact many treatments are no longer provided. I can understand some streamlining but not to the detriment of those who need the help….

I have been telling my friends that we are being americanised for years. I for one do not see anything to recommend their way of life for the ordinary person

I'm horrified at this gov't management of the NHS, they have deliberately run it down so people will pay to go private and its worked, not that it will necessarily help them at the next election, some people have died waiting for treatment, some have paid for it and are angry about it. At the moment we have a socialist NHS, we all get the treatment we need regardless of cost, the Tory version is each pay for his own, Tories do not believe they should contribute to some one else's care. The new bill means private healthcare providers will be able to sit on commissioning groups & decide how services are provided and funded, which we really don't want. The BBC doesn't cover these things properly and misleads us, as did the Tories at the last election when they side stepped any questions on privatisation. Channel 4 news is best, but for many the 1st they'll know of it is when a service is no longer provided or they're asked to pay

My DM spent the last year and a bit of her life in sheltered accommodation in an Abbeyfield home. She had 2 meals a day provided and got her own breakfast and between meal snacks and drinks. She had a single room with a kitchenette and an en-suite wet room. The home was in Lancashire and cost a fraction of the amounts being quoted here. She got on well with the other residents with whom she shared the communal facilities and she enjoyed their company. She had some visits from outside carers which she paid for on top but while she was there the rent from her house and her pension income more than covered her expenses.

I guess things are much more expensive in the South of England so we were probably very lucky that she was somewhere so affordable where she was so happy! We'd tried to persuade her to move somewhere like that for many years but only succeeded after a hospital admission resulted in her being told she could only go home if she agreed to live downstairs at her own home for safety reasons. Once she was in that position she realised the home she hadn't wanted to leave was no longer her home any more.
Once settled there she told us "It's lovely here. I should have moved here years ago!" - eye roll!

If I ever need to lose my independence I hope I'm able to find such good provision, though I suspect it is unlikely to happen. Meanwhile I plan to relocate up North, release equity and give as much away as I legally can so my kids get some of their inheritance before I have to spend it on my care! If I manage to stay independent I'll be able to treat myself to things I can never afford living in the South East on a fairly meagre pension with a mortgage that still has over 10 years to run!

I'm very worried about the future of the NHS and hope that this government's plans can be thwarted. Back in 1988 we spent some time on holiday with an American couple. The NHS had just brought in charges for eye tests ( and possibly other charges) and our American friends were saying how sad it was that that was happening as they envied our NHS compared to what they had! That was only the beginning. If it isn't stopped now it could be the end of the NHS before long!

A friend sent me a link to this video this morning.

It IS political, but it sets out the implications for the NHS of various parts of the bill.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-kqTMX5yso

Anyone who wants a health service like that of the US is out of their mind or extremely well off.

The thing with the new care bill is that it will not do as it is claimed
1. the cap is only for "care" and not for board and lodging costs so care homes are going to need to do detailed costings of how much time each "care" component takes for costings

2. Will "care costs" be fully funded? This didn't happen with the "free" nursery hours where the government pays only £3.50-4,00 per hour of the £6.00-8.00 that nurseries would normally charge so that nurseries are now charging for all sorts of "extras" that used to be included in the fee

3. It seems as though it will be a subsidy for wealthier pensioners - if you own a £1 million home you will be able to keep around 90% of assets - if you live in a £100,000 home then you will lose everything and your house will be sold. Why not go for a percentage instead

Appallingly not surprised...... The food issue is an odd one, my mum was I. A Very nicely appointed care home but the food! They had fish and chips every week and no alternative on menu, other meals were soup and sandwich/curry(!)/burgers(!!)/ And always a stew thing... My mum's generation generally weren't McDonald munchers didn't go a bomb on curry and my mum's upbringing in countryside in 1920s didn't include fish and chips! We never had them at home ever! The laziness of the menu choices was the one thing that she emerged from her dreamlike state for! She always had a harsh word for the "rubbish" as she called it!