BMJ  2008;336:1095 (17 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39580.712708.4E

News

Prime minister calls for major consultation on social care

Lynn Eaton

1 London

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Gordon Brown has announced a major consultation on the way social care is provided in England and how best to ensure suitable provision of care for the growing number of elderly people.

"We expect two million more people to have care and support needs in 20 years’ time," he told a meeting on Monday at the healthcare charity the King’s Fund in London.

The Department of Health says that by 2028 a quarter of the adult population in England will be aged over 65 years and that the number of people aged over 85 will have doubled.

"Quite rightly, people’s expectations have risen in recent years," Mr Brown said. "A generation of older people have shown that they can lead healthy lives well into retirement. With the right support they can remain active and make a full contribution to their society."

He said that the government must make it easier . . . [Full text of this article]


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