Andrew Mitchell welcomes the Government’s White Paper on adult social care and calls for coherent policies to enable people to stay in their homes for as long as possible. He supports the Royal Sutton Coldfield Cottage Hospital’s newly agreed services in this respect which will have a real impact in Sutton Coldfield.
Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield) (Con)
Notwithstanding the somewhat churlish approach of the Opposition Front Bench, today’s announcement marks good and steady progress on the part of a Government who have, after many years, started to tackle this important problem, and I think the House should give the Minister credit for that.
Does the Minister appreciate how much this matters to us in Sutton Coldfield, which has a more elderly demographic? In this context, I agree with my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Damian Green). We need coherent policies enabling older folk to stay in their homes for as long as possible. In particular, the newly agreed and enhanced role of the services emanating from the Royal Sutton Coldfield Cottage Hospital in keeping people in their homes is at the front and centre of our plans for ensuring that the White Paper and the accompanying policy have a real impact in Sutton Coldfield.
Gillian Keegan (The Minister for Care and Mental Health)
Of course I am trying not to be too disappointed by the reactions of Opposition Members; I did not really expect an awful lot more.
Areas such as Sutton Coldfield and Surrey are expensive to live in, and we need to recognise that. Most of us, when asked about our future care arrangements, would say that we would like to stay in our own homes, and we want to make that possible. There is a great deal of technology that will help, but it is also important to adapt more supported housing and to work with local groups to deliver the right approach for the right areas, and that will include local hospitals as well.