Fair Care Campaign
The issue of social care is beginning to rise up the political agenda. Recent reports from the Care Quality Commission into the standards of care, the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s investigation into home care services, the Dilnot Commission’s report into care funding and the government’s anticipated Care White Paper have all helped to bring the issue to the fore.
The NPC is well placed to launch a high-profile campaign to coincide with these developments, under the slogan of Fair Care. At the heart of the campaign will be the demand for a National Care Service, funded through general taxation, but it will also address the important issue of standards and quality of care services.
To support the campaign the NPC will be:
- Publishing a new pamphlet entitled The Politics of Care which will provide a detailed analysis of the current social care system, outline the changes that are needed and how they can be afforded. Copies will be available shortly priced £2 inc p&p.
- Publicly launching the NPC Dignity Code on Wednesday 22 February 2012 in the House of Commons. More details to follow.
- Launching an online Epetition to coincide with the launch of the Dignity Code. If we secure more than 100,000 signatures there is a strong possibility that there will be a debate in the House of Commons on the issue. You can sign the petition today by clicking on this link: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/27050.
- Staging a Care Lobby of Parliament on Tuesday 20 March 2012, with a rally in Committee Room 14 from 1-3pm. More details to follow.
- Inviting Care Minister, Paul Burstow MP to attend this year’s Pensioners’ Parliament and answer questions from delegates.
The Fair Care Campaign is calling for:
- The Creation of a National Care Service alongside the NHS; funded through general taxation and based on medical and care needs rather than ability to pay
- Holistic assessments to determine need to be carried out by medical and social care professionals in consultation with the individual
- Introduction of a UK-wide Dignity Code to uphold the rights and maintain the personal dignity of older people who are less able to care for themselves or to properly conduct their affairs
- Improved standards of care, through better monitoring and regulation and enhanced training and staff conditions
- Greater protection and specific legislation covering the issue of elder abuse
- A return of the majority of social care provision to the public sector
Drop the Bill Campaign
The NPC is urging its supporters to sign an online petition aimed at stopping the Health and Social Care Bill. Millions of people are unaware that the proposed changes will fundamentally alter the basis of health care in this country and allow increasing numbers of private health companies to take over the running of services. We must not let this happen. Please do everything you can to support this campaign by adding your name to the petition: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22670
Rights in Retirement Campaign
During the last week of October, the NPC launched a Rights in Retirement campaign which calls for:
- A decent state pension that takes everyone out of poverty
- Proper care in the NHS or the community for those in need, paid for through general taxation
- A warm home with financial assistance towards fuel costs
During the launch week, groups and supporters:
- Protested outside the Royal Courts of Justice (Strand) in support of the RPI/CPI legal challenge
- Attended a packed national rally/lobby of Parliament in the House of Commons
- Took part in the Decent Care for All march/rally in the Care Minister’s Sutton constituency
- Held meetings, protests, street stalls in various parts of the country
Download the campaign flyer here. More news about the campaign will be available shortly.
Fair Pensions For All
The NPC is supporting a joint petition with the ATL, NUT, PCS and UCU trade unions which calls for decent state and occupational pensions for all. You can download the petition here.
A copy of the Fair Pensions For All pamphlet is also available to download here.
Fuel Poverty campaign
The NPC is campaigning against the government’s decision to cut the winter fuel allowance this year and to freeze it for the next 4 years.
Please ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 653 opposing the cut.
Add your name to our petition (see Home page) by sending us your name and address or download a copy of our petition here.
The Office for National Statistics released the figures for the number of excess winter deaths for December 2010-March 2011 on 22 November, showing that 25,700 older people died of cold related illnesses.
A charity has been launched which aims to encourage pensioners to donate their unwanted winter fuel allowance towards helping disadvantaged younger people. It reinforces the suggestion that some older people do not need the assistance and that universal provision is an inefficient way of tackling the problem. The NPC has stated that the taxation system must be used to address any perceived unfairness. The charity’s campaign also raises the idea that only those on means-tested benefits need to allowance. It is vital that we counter these claims in view of rising fuel bills, winter deaths and expected cold weather.
RPI/CPI
The NPC has consistently opposed the government’s plans to alter the way in which the state and occupational pensions are indexed – by using the lower Consumer Price Index, rather than the customary Retail Price Index.
Add your name to the online petition at: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/1535
End frozen pensions
For sometime the NPC has been supporting the International Consortium of British Pensioners (ICBP) in its campaign to ensure that all UK pensioners, wherever they live, receive an annual increase in their state pension. The ICBP has just launched a new petition to support their campaign.
Add your name to the online petition at: http://bit.ly/BritPensions
Dignity Code
The NPC has created a dignity code to uphold the rights and maintain the personal dignity of older people, within the context of ensuring the health, safety and well being of those who are increasingly less able to care for themselves or to properly conduct their affairs. We have asked a number of professional health bodies, regulators and charities if they will sign up to the code, which we will then present to government. You can download a copy of the code here.
Withdrawal of half price coach concession
From October 2011 the government is scrapping the fuel duty rebate given to coach operating companies in return for them offering a 50% discount on fares for older and disabled travellers.
Add your name to the online petition:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/15235
Save Our Buses
The NPC is a member of the Campaign for Better Transport, which is currently running a Save Our Buses campaign to make the case for buses to government and to support bus users to defend their local services.
You can find out how to get involved by visiting their website at www.bettertransport.org.uk.
BBC Question Time
For over two years, the NPC has been campaigning to secure a slot on the BBC’s flagship political programme, Question Time. Our argument remains a simple one: Britain’s biggest and most representative pensioners’ organisation should have the opportunity to appear on Question Time so that we can express the views and concerns of millions of older people.
Over the last few months, we have been leafleting the audience as they go into the programme, as it travels around the country. This will continue, but in the meantime we are asking supporters to send polite requests for the NPC to be invited onto the show to:
and
Parliamentary Support Group
Early in 2011 the NPC set up a Parliamentary Support Group of cross-party politicians to support the work of the NPC. The group is convened by Luton North MP, Kelvin Hopkins. The group meets quarterly and is open to any MP to join. Please ask your MP if they wish to get involved.