- Greens will introduce free personal care along the lines successfully brought in by the Scottish Government, to ensure dignity in old age and for the disabled.
- Increase pay rates and introduce a career structure for carers to rebuild the care workforce.
- An additional £3bn to enable local authorities to provide high-quality children’s social care
The Green Party is today highlighting their ‘take greater care’ commitment, pledging better care for millions of people in the care system and those working in it. The Green Party manifesto includes a commitment of £20bn extra a year to ensure free personal care available for all and increased pay rates and a career structure for carers.
Currently there are 150,000 staff vacancies in the care sector. In England there are estimated to be 4.7 million unpaid carers.
The Green Party Communities Spokesperson, Ellie Chowns, said:
“You can judge a society by how it looks after those in need.
“With this test the UK is clearly severely failing and must do better.
“That’s why Greens have committed to invest £20bn a year into social care and will put it on a par with health.
“We believe that health and care services must go hand in hand.
“Investment and an increased priority given to care, will help free up hospital beds and reduce waiting lists.
“The Green Party believes free social care is fundamental to ensuring everyone is shown compassion and dignity at any stage in their lives when they need extra support.”
The Green Party has also pledged greater care of social care workers. Chowns continued:
“There are 150,000 staff vacancies in the care sector and in England an estimated 4.7 million unpaid carers.
“Green MPs will seek to bring together local authorities, trade unions and private providers to ensure increased pay and improved terms and conditions for all care workers.
“The current system is failing some of the most vulnerable in society.
“It is only The Green Party who are being honest about the levels of invesment needed to give people the dignity and wellbeing they deserve.”