Publication of the interim report of the Barker Commission

The interim report of the Barker Commission has concluded that the current divide between health and social care is not in the best interest of patients and carers. They propose that a single, ring-fenced budget would be better at serving individuals' health and social care needs.

The proposed settlement would replace two systems which have been in place since 1948. A health care system which is free at the point of need and the funding is protected and a social care system which offers heavily means tested care and receives funding from local authorities, which is subject to cuts.

The commission is seeking views on how a new styled settlement could be financed. Options which have been set out in the interim report range from tax proposals to increases in user charges for health care.

There will be a final report which will address two questions which this interim report has raised: how should entitlements to publicly funded health and social care be aligned? And how should this new settlement be financed?

ADASS welcomed the report from the King's Fund as "an important contribution to what is fast becoming a major and continuing national debate." According to President Sandie Keene "Although only an interim report, it is in the company of several other key documents recently published all pointing out the current inadequate and unsustainable health and social care funding model and suggesting a new governance for health and social care services. Today's report asks important questions which may assist the development of a longer term solution."