130,000 call for end to the care crisis

The MS Society Chief Executive has today hand-delivered a petition to 10 Downing Street signed by over 130,000 people calling for urgent reform of our crumbling care and support system. 

The petition is supported by the Care and Support Alliance, a network of over 50 charities chaired by the MS Society, and is expected to trigger a debate in the House of Commons on how the Government proposes to end the care crisis.

This comes just a week after the Alliance sent an open letter to the Prime Minister calling on him make reform of the system his ‘lasting legacy’, and on the heels of an announcement in the Queen’s speech that the government will produce a draft bill on reform of the care and support system.

Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive of the MS Society and Chair of the Care and Support Alliance said:

“I’m delighted to be taking the opportunity to give a voice to over 130,000 people who want to tell the Government that care can’t wait by presenting our Care in Crisis petition to No 10.

While the mention of care and support in the Queen’s speech last week was a small step forward, now is the time to make concrete and robust plans to provide care and support for all of those who need it. Too many people with MS are living isolated and at risk because they do not get the care they need. They cannot wait any longer for reform. The government must honour its promise and, as a matter of urgency, publish sustainable plans to implement funding reform and commit to legislation”.

The petition is just one part of the MS Society’s campaign for better social care, calling for major reform of a system that’s letting down too many people affected by MS. We want to see:

• immediate investment to alleviate the current crisis;
• implementation of the recommendations of the Dilnot Commission on Funding of Care and Support, including the £35,000 cap and £100,000 means-testing threshold for residential care;
• a national threshold of eligibility for care and support to end the postcode lottery of care, and ensure that a minimum standard of needs are met;
• reform of the confusing and contradictory patchwork of social care legislation through full implementation of the Law Commission’s recommendations.

Join us in the campaign to end the care crisis!

We need as much support from MPs as we can get. Take a minute and contact your MP now.