Reform of social-care system requires change in attitude, says Bishop of Sheffield
This is an extract from the report of the debate in the Church Times.
A FUNDAMENTAL rethink of social attitudes is needed to reform the adult social-care system in England, so that a “gloriously ordinary life” is available for all, regardless of gender, age, or disability, the Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Pete Wilcox, has said.
Speaking in a debate in the House of Lords on Monday evening, he said that “we cannot any longer tinker around the edges of the existing system.”
Referring to a report published by the Archbishops’ Commission on Reimagining Care (News, 27 January), Dr Wilcox said: “It will be possible to reimagine social care only if we fundamentally rethink our attitudes in society, where too often we are inclined to treat people as if their value is determined by factors such as age, gender, or ability rather than affirming and celebrating the dignity of all human beings, valued for who they are and not for what they do.”
There was a “considerable amount of overlap” between this report and the one produced by the House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee last year, he said. “Both contribute to the growing consensus that we cannot any longer tinker around the edges of the existing system. We must reset and reimagine the way that social care is understood, organised, and delivered.”
Christians on Ageing considered the Commission’s Report and its implications for the future of care at its Annual Conference. A report of the presentation by Will Fremont-Brown, who was closely involved in the work of the Commission will be available on our website soon.
