Healthcare ‘timebomb’ ticking on south coast

Britain can no longer afford to ignore the issue of growing old, Health Secretary Andy Burnham warned yesterday.

In Dorset and the New Forest, where there are large concentrations of pensioners, the situation is particularly acute. The result is a “healthcare timebomb” that needs dealing with.

It’s a sentiment that Bournemouth’s older people’s champion Cllr Pat Lewis agrees with. She believes people should draw up “life plans,” setting out rough ideas for their old age.

“We do need to anticipate the future,” she said. “It’s not being morbid, it’s being practical.

“We know that the demand for healthcare services is going to increase dramatically, it really is a timebomb ticking.”

According to a Department of Health survey, the majority of people are blissfully unaware of how much residential care costs.

More than a quarter of people (26 per cent) thought residential care in old age would be free, with the Government meeting the cost, while more than half (51 per cent) expect the costs to be £10,000 or less.

In fact, care and support is means-tested and anyone with assets of more than £23,000 can expect to pay at least some of the costs, which can reach up to £200,000 for a person needing care for dementia.

Twenty per cent of people will need care costing less than £1,000 but another 20 per cent will need care costing more than £50,000.

Celia Burgess, office manager at Age Concern Christchurch, said: “The cost of care comes as a terrible shock to people. They are completely gobsmacked when they learn how much they have to pay.

“Suppose you’ve got a couple and the wife has a stroke and goes into hospital. Soon she’s ready to come home but she needs carers three or four times a day and maybe a hoist to get out of bad. That could cost £800 – £900 a week.”

And there’s other, smaller costs that add to the misery. Christchurch has the highest proportion of elderly people in the country and Celia said many people struggle with the cost of making regular trips to Bournemouth hospital. Others find themselves isolated because they can’t afford travel costs.

John Morton, director of joint commissioning and partnerships at NHS Bournemouth and Poole, said: “We fully support the move to make sure that people are involved in a public debate about how care for older people can be provided in future, and to raise awareness of the cost implications of care.

“We will look at any proposals with interest and will be working with our local authority colleagues to respond to any recommendations on the provision of care for the local population.”

On the streets of Bournemouth, shoppers were of the view that their taxes should cover the cost of any care they might need. John Mobbs, 69, said: “Any treatment I’ve received up to now has been ok. I don’t have my own house or much money but I think that the current system is fair as long as the healthcare is provided. I don’t want to be around forever, I don’t want to be dependent on other people.”

And Jean Barker, 74, said: “I think that the government should pay for any care I need. I’ve paid taxes all my working life so I should be entitled to free healthcare.”

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Tagged with: Bournemouth • Department of Health • Dorset • Health • Health care • John Morton • National Health Service • New Forest

Filed under: Elderly Care

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