Secretary of state for health, Alan Johnson, has once again ruled out scrapping means testing for social care services. Speaking at the National Children and Adult Services Conference, Mr Johnson dismissed rumours that were circulating after chancellor Alistair Darling announced proposals for a Green Paper looking at social care funding. Mr Darling said the Government would be looking at ways to ‘reform' the means-testing system. ‘Instead of focusing on free care, we should be focusing on fair care,' Mr Johnson told delegates. ‘We cannot make any kind of progress without some form of means testing. Any party which says otherwise is wrong.' He said the time was right for a ‘robust discussion' on funding, and any reform must promote independence for those who used services. Mr Johnson praised health minister, Ivan Lewis, highlighting the work he had done to look at reforming care services and increase independence. ‘Partnerships for older people, reducing hospital admissions and increasing early discharges are all crucial for achieving transformation in social care and reducing the burden on health,' he said.
