THE Lib Dems have announced a costed plan to reform social care and boost carers’ wages as part of a proposed package of £8bn on health and care.
 

The plan would introduce free personal care for disabled and elderly adults and would introduce a carers’ minimum wage, which would be £2 higher than the living wage. The plan would also increase the Carers’ Allowance and give unpaid carers paid leave.
 

The free personal care would cover costs like nursing care and daily support, including hygiene and medication, for older and disabled people with high needs. The plan would be funded by reversing tax cuts given by the Conservatives to banks
 

The Lib Dems have also pledged a radical overhaul of current Special Educational Needs and disabilities (SEND) provision. They would give local authorities extra funding to reduce the amount that schools pay towards the cost of a child’s Education, Health and Care Plan. They would also establish a new National Body for SEND to fund support for children with very high needs and give more powers to local authorities for places planning, exclusions and SEND functions.
 

Erin Harvey commented:- “Our health and social care system was creaking at the seams before the pandemic and now it needs urgent reform. The Lib Dems are the only party so far to have a fully costed plan that would bring dignity to people who need care and would fairly reward carers for the tough and important work they do. Latest figures show that over a quarter of the population in our town is 65 years or older, so this plan, alongside the guarantee for anyone to see a GP within a week, will help people in Southport. I’m also pleased to see proper provision for children with special educational needs. Services across Sefton are under severe pressure when it comes to helping children with additional needs and urgent reform is welcome and needed.”