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The health secretary has backed calls for the City to get involved in deciding how to solve the rising cost of older people's care. Andy Burnham backed the lord mayor of London's call for financiers to be brought into the debate on how to halt the spiralling cost of care. ‘It is essential that we look at the practicalities of the partnership between individuals and the state' Andy Burnham, Health Secretary Last week, The MJ exclusively published details of a report commissioned by lord mayor, Ian Luder, for the City of London Corporation, setting out possible insurance options, such as equity-release schemes. Mr Burnham told The MJ: ‘The City could have a very important role to play. ‘I welcome the contribution made by the lord mayor of London. It is a very important intervention. ‘It is essential that we look at the practicalities of the partnership between individuals and the state.' He also confirmed the White Paper on the future of social care would be published in February, too late for the next legislative programme. The Association of Directors of Adult social Services (ADASS) called for broad, cross-party consensus that made clear for the first time what citizens should expect to pay for themselves. Association president, Jenny Owen, said: ‘The current situation is stark. Political leaders from all parties need to recognise that the costs of caring for people in their own homes, and in residential homes, as well as in hospital, all need to be seen as a single, indivisible whole.' But there was little sign of that consensus. The two main parties set out their predicted costs of care insurance, which were wide apart. Shadow health secretary, Andrew Lansley, pledged a one-off cost of £8,000, while Mr Burnham put the figure at nearer £25,000. Mr Lansley also pledged to ring-fence the public health budget, but made no further revelations about future policy direction. David Behan, the Department of Health's director general of social care, said closing the long-developed gap between councils and the health service was vital. He told The MJ: ‘If we can get the integration between health and social care right at local level, there are tremendous opportunities. Local councils are there to enable people to live the lives they choose.' To read the lord mayor's report – our interview with the lord mayor and full analysis – go to Localgov.co.uk

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Burnham backs care costs call

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