NEWS
T Cuts for poorest older people equal to one
third of income
he over-75s will be hit harder, relative to their incomes, than
any other group as a result of the government’s forthcoming spending review, according to new independent research for Age UK.
The research shows that the average household with someone over-75 will lose £2,200 worth of public services per year by 2014- 15 – equivalent to a sixth (14%) of their household income.
The findings indicate that the very poorest will suffer the most from public spending cuts, sparking new fears that far from being ‘fair’ the coalition government’s spending plans are in fact deeply regressive.
In cash terms, the poorest over-75s will lose an average of £2,030 worth of services by 2014-15 – equivalent to a third of their household income. And
the outlook is only slightly better for the poorest 65-74 year olds, who will miss out on £1,870 worth of services by 2014-15 – just under a third (29%) of their net income.
Modelling the impact of spending cuts across society, the research shows that there will be serious losses for all households, but particularly for younger families with children and for older pensioners. But whereas families with children will lose out mostly through cuts to education, pensioners – who tend to have lower incomes than other groups – will largely lose out as a result of cuts to social care and housing.
Age UK is calling on the government, ahead of the comprehensive spending review to recognise that slashing budgets for services that people in later life rely on could have a devastating impact on the most frail and vulnerable, putting thousands of lives at risk.
Additional research for the charity shows that a funding gap of £2.2billion will open up over the next four years if the chancellor cuts social care spending by 25% as predicted – leaving 500,000 of the most frail and vulnerable older people without the vital home-based care they rely on to stay safe and well.
healthcare property specialist
ovember’s Public Property Summit is the first attempt to
bring together all those working with the public sector estate.
presents opportunities for NHS foundation trusts and private healthcare providers to acquire services and property as primary care trusts divest their provider arms.
Michelle Mitchell, Age UK’s charity director, said: “In such difficult economic times, it would be naïve to assume that older people will be offered immunity from the government’s spending cuts. But as people in later life are generally poorer and more dependent on public spending than other groups, they risk bearing the brunt of swingeing cuts unless government decisions are taken fairly and cautiously.
“When the coalition entered government it promised to safeguard age-related entitlements and protect the poorest and most vulnerable in society. With the lives of thousands of older people at risk if essential care services are cut, the chancellor will not quickly be forgiven if he fails to support the oldest and frailest, who rely on public services the most.”
N PCT leases hold inherent risks, warns
significant opportunities in marriage value, but only after careful consideration of the leases.”
On the agenda for professionals from both the public and private sectors will be the ownership and efficient management of all property used for public services.
Despite disposals at the start of the Labour administration, the health estate remains still has an estimated value of £36 billion. A substantial body of sales is once again on the horizon. Many are driven by proposals in July’s White Paper which
Sep/Oct 10
“The opportunities are real but accompanied by inherent risks in existing leases,” warns specialist healthcare consultant David Lawrence of Capita Symonds. “Typical risks include the tenant’s statutory compliance and duty of care obligations, dilapidations, impairments on rental income and environmental performance. These risks need to be identified and addressed. There are
A range of health sector specialists such as Department of Health framework contractor Willmott Dixon and property consultant DTZ will be joining the debate and offering solutions at the Public Property Summit. DTZ, for example, will be drawing on its experience across the full range of NHS properties such as acute, community,
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Find out more and register at: W:
www.publicpropertysummit.com
nhe 9
psychiatric and day hospitals together with health centres, clinics and offices.
The summit, which takes place at the Business Design Centre in London on 1-2 November, should help all those in the health service to work out the practical implications of key policies such as the devolution of power from Whitehall, localised and joined-up service delivery and a virtual halving of management costs.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92