Families should be told their rights on care funding
Recent analysis forecasts that the UK faces a £1.1 billion shortfall in adult social care funding by 2028-29 — this growing gap presents a significant issue for individuals who rely on care services, local authorities and the wider healthcare system.
Current data indicates that self-funding individuals often pay significantly more for care services than those funded by local authorities. They can be charged twice as much for the same services, highlighting disparities in how care is funded and delivered across different groups. The average weekly cost of a residential care home in the UK now stands at around £1,100 — a rise of more than 20 per cent in five years. For nursing care, the figure is even higher.
Despite the government's recent announcement of an extra £4 billion for social care — which sounds generous — independent analysis has laid bare that it is nowhere near enough. And worse, the burden is quietly being shifted onto those least able to carry it.
This creeping injustice is particularly evident in NHS 'continuing healthcare' decisions. These are supposed to provide fully funded care for individuals with significant health needs. Yet, over the past decade, there's been a 20 per cent drop in the number of people deemed eligible. The criteria have not changed — but the interpretation clearly has.
As budgets tighten, it appears eligibility thresholds are quietly rising. And the cost? Families being wrongly denied funding, pushed into selling homes, draining savings, and often spending six-figure sums on care they should never have paid for.
The government's inability — or unwillingness — to cope with the realities of social care is directly fuelling this crisis. We are watching the slow-motion creation of a two-tier care system. One tier for those who can navigate the bureaucracy and appeal unjust funding decisions. And another for those who, exhausted and overwhelmed, simply pay up because they have no choice.
But families can challenge these decisions — and in many cases, successfully. The problem is, they are rarely told how, or even that they can.
This quiet scandal must be dragged into the light. If you're one of the many families affected, know this: you are not alone, and you may have been wrongly paying for care that should have been funded from the start.
It's time the government stopped balancing the books on the backs of vulnerable families. And it's time more people knew their rights — because reclaiming wrongly paid care fees isn't just about money. It's about justice.Lisa Morgan is a partner at the law firm Hugh James
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
It's time Scotland's NHS got into the digital age
Anyone who's spent time in a Scottish hospital in recent years may have noticed pagers continue to be widely used by clinical staff. Figures show health boards have spent at least £4.6million on the ancient devices since 2019. Which begs the question, why? Surely, in the 21st century and the era of WiFi, a more up-to-date digital device could be issued to staff working in hospitals? It doesn't seem fair that nurses are reliant on pagers while the vast majority of the patients in their care will own smartphones. Bureaucracy in the health service is legendary but the multiple levels of managers running the organisation must surely be able to come up with a better solution. And that's not to mention the 13 fax machines still being used in some arm of the Scottish NHS. This isn't down to a lack of money. The health service will receive a record £21billion from the Scottish Government this year alone. If money can't be found from that to end the reliance on 80s communication devices, senior NHS figures deserve to be asked why. It's another reminder that, for all the respect Scots have for the health service, it is frequently failing to offer the standard of care all patients should expect. Pagers may not be the most pressing issue facing hospitals but they illustrate a wider story. The NHS needs reform, as well as adequate funding. It can't continue to rely on antiquated devices, no matter how small. Air solution It's deeply concerning that a summer of strikes at Glasgow Airport look set to go ahead. Around 100 workers, including airside support officers, engineers and managers, will down tools in a two-day walkout in an ongoing dispute over pay. Unite, the union representing the workers, said its members were struggling with chronic fatigue and understaffing. Members will walkout for 48 hours from 6am on Thursday, July 24, until 6am on Saturday, July 26. The disruption is expected to affect thousands of holidaymakers setting off on their summer getaways. It's on company bosses at the airport to get back around the table with union reps and iron out these issues. It's not fair on the thousands of Scots holidaymakers who have saved hard all year to have their travel plans thrown up in the air. It's vital a resolution is found to satisfy workers and passengers alike.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
NHS in Scotland 'stuck in analogue age' as health boards shell out millions on pagers
Labour claimed the continued reliance on the devices proved the SNP Government was failing to equip the NHS for the 21st century. Scotland's NHS is " stuck in an analogue age" after it was revealed that health boards have shelled out millions of pounds on pagers in recent years. The devices were widely used in the 1980s and 1990s for instant communication before being replaced long ago by smartphones. Scottish Labour said the continued reliance on the devices proved the SNP Government was failing to equip the NHS for the 21st century. Data obtained by the party found health boards had spent at least £4,596,608 on pagers since 2018/19, with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spending almost £1.8 million and NHS Lothian spending close to £1 million. But the total figure is expected to be higher as some health boards failed to respond to a freedom of information request. Spending on pagers increased in at least seven health boards, while rising by 8 percent overall between 2018/19 and 2024/ Labour is now calling for improvements to hospital WiFi to reduce reliance on outdated technology like pagers and improve service delivery. At least 13 fax machines — used for sending messages instantly before emails — are still in use in Scottish hospitals. Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour health spokeswoman, said: "The UK Labour government is setting out a blueprint for NHS England's digital future, but the SNP, Scotland's NHS is still stuck in an analogue age. "The SNP has been in power for as long as the iPhone has existed, yet all analogue John has invented is excuses. Getting reliable WiFi in Scottish hospitals is the bare minimum the Scottish Government should do to bring our NHS into the 21 st century. "While English patients will soon be able to book appointments by app, the SNP can only promise a pilot for dermatology appointments in Lanarkshire. "Only Scottish Labour can take our NHS out of the SNP's analogue age — that's the new direction Scotland needs." It comes after Wes Streeting last week branded John Swinney an "analogue politician". The UK Health Secretary took a swipe at the First Minister as plans were announced to expand the NHS app available for patients in England. The Scottish version has yet to launch. Streeting said: "The UK Labour government is embracing technology to deliver a better NHS for patients and their families, giving them more control and transparency over their treatment. "In John Swinney the SNP have an analogue politician in a digital age and patients in Scotland are missing out. The SNP have record funding and complete control of the NHS in Scotland. "There are no excuses for [not having an app in place] and it just shows why Scotland can't afford a third decade of the SNP." A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'This spend of £4.6 million since 2018/19 must be seen in the context of an NHS budget that was more than £100 billion over the same period. 'While innovation and use of digital technology is essential to ensure the health and social care system's long-term sustainability, health boards should deploy the technology that enables NHS staff to best serve the needs of patients. "We expect health boards to embrace the latest tools, but also understand that pagers may be more practical and preferred in some cases. 'We have already taken significant steps through our Operational Improvement Plan and Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework to set out clear actions to harness digital innovation, improve access to treatment, shift the balance of care into the community and strengthen prevention.'
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Bigger is always better – and nine other sex myths busted
Asked to define sex, most people will say it means penetration and anything else is just 'foreplay', explains Kate Moyle, a psychosexual and relationship therapist, and author of The Science of Sex. 'This pedestals intercourse as 'real sex' and other sexual acts as something done before penetration rather than as deserving credit in their own right,' she says. Lesbian, bisexual and gay people tend to have a broader definition. Sex education historically revolved around reproduction (therefore penetration), which is just one of hundreds of reasons people have sex. If you think of penetration as the sex you 'should' be having, you might be missing out on the sex you genuinely enjoy. Whether you're in a penetration rut or tend to have sex the same way, challenge your idea of what intercourse means: 'Whenever you have sex, change one small thing – lights on/off, starting with your clothes on/off, a different position, or agreeing not to have penetrative sex,' Moyle suggests. 'Novelty can be a real boost for our sex lives.' 'Our culture treats the body like a lie detector test,' says Dr Emily Jamea, a sex and relationship therapist and author of Anatomy of Desire: Five Secrets to Create Connection and Cultivate Passion. We're fed the idea that arousal is instant, automatic and visible, 'but bodies are not machines, and things like stress, medications, trauma, hormones or feeling pressured to perform can affect its response', she adds. As psychosexual and relationship therapist James Earl puts it: mind and body don't always play nice. 'Men sometimes get an erection without being turned on, just like women may lubricate without feeling desire. The reverse is also true: you can feel aroused without the physical manifestation,' he explains. Try not to take the absence of a partner's erection or wetness as a personal rejection. 'It may signal that someone needs a bit more time, safety or stimulation,' Jamea says. 'Slow things down, check in and focus on what feels good, not just what 'should' be happening in the moment,' she adds. Experts are divided on the impact porn has on our sex lives, and even how addictive it really is. 'Some people may watch porn compulsively, but it's not because porn is addictive,' says Silva Neves, a psychosexual psychotherapist and author. 'It's often because they have other underlying emotional difficulties (most often depression) that they're trying to soothe.' But Alex Warden, a lead therapist at the Priory hospital, Chelmsford, who supports an increasing number of patients being referred to him with pornography addiction, says compulsive viewing can damage a relationship if taken to extremes. 'Partners usually feel betrayed and hurt, which can result in a breakdown of communication and intimacy. This tends to be wrapped up in a lot of confusion, shame and a host of mental health issues,' he says. However, Neves points out: 'Porn is not a monolith. There are multiple types of porn, some undesirable and misogynistic, and some very good ethical types.' If you are an avid viewer, he adds, it's best to be as open as possible and choose a partner who has similar values around it: 'Make sure you watch it in a way that's pleasurable, matches your own values and allows you to communicate your porn enjoyment with your partner without shame,' he says. This can affect everyone, regardless of sex or gender. A review of studies conducted across 18 years found up to 25% of men and 16% of women experience performance anxiety. The symptoms are often more obvious if you have a penis: not being able to get or maintain an erection, and premature ejaculation. With vulvas, it may present as reduced lubrication, pelvic floor tightness, reduced pleasure or inhibited orgasm, Moyle explains. The anxiety is often rooted in limited, gendered messages we receive about sex. 'We feel that if we don't 'succeed', we'll be judged and shamed; or we believe we've failed to meet our partner's (or our own) expectations,' she says. If you have performance anxiety and a regular partner, tell them what's going on and offer a specific suggestion for what could help. 'Where we have communication gaps we fill the spaces with assumptions, which often hold a negative bias, but pretending it isn't happening is likely to worsen the anxiety,' advises Moyle. If a specific sex act or position is making you anxious, put a pause on it. 'It'll give you a chance to refocus your attention on what is working and feeling good,' she adds. Jamea says sexual skills are something we all have to learn and work at. 'I believe we're born with the fundamentals that we need to be good lovers, but things happen in our lives – we're influenced by culture or have a negative experience that disconnects us from those innate qualities.' Good sex isn't about a talented performance. 'It's about how good a communicator you are, how safe you make your partner feel and how deeply you're able to connect with them,' she says. Whether you think you're good or bad at sex, having a fixed mindset kills experimentation and prevents growth. Jamea says there's one question you should ask during sex if you want to be truly great: what feels best for you? 'That simple question can turn it into a collaborative experience where you're co-creators and active participants with the shared goal of making it better for everyone.' An Age UK study found 54% of men and 31% of women over 70 are still sexually active. Yet 'older people are viewed as sexless by our society, media and the medical community', says Joan Price, an advocate for 'ageless sexuality' and the author of Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud About Senior Sex. 'With a spirit of creativity and communication, we can be sexual beings lifelong,' she continues. 'Yes, sex changes as we age: we just need to learn to explore new ways of making sexual arousal work for us.' If what you used to do isn't physically possible any more, Price suggests taking turns. 'Instead of being frustrated that you can't find one activity that works for both of you, enjoy double the pleasure by giving and receiving separately.' For partnered and solo senior sex, incorporate vibrators into your sex life. 'They speed up arousal and are often the difference between orgasm or not.' Only 55% of straight men and 62% of gay and bisexual men don't feel anxious about their penis size. 'For men especially, there is the belief that the bigger it is the more pleasurable sex will be,' says intimate health expert Dr Shirin Lakhani. Yet the majority of straight women say they don't care about penis size, and 85% are happy with what their partner is packing. After all, pleasure comes down to much more than the length of a penis. If your penis size causes anxiety, share with your sexual partner how you're feeling. 'Even if society has made you feel uncomfortable about discussing penis size, your partner should be understanding and reassuring. There are of course other ways to enjoy sex that don't focus on penis size,' says Lakhani, who suggests oral sex or using your hands. This myth comes from the belief that sex toys can do things partners can't, and are therefore 'better'. Think of sex toys as tools, not threats. 'They offer something different to partnered sex. The two are not mutually exclusive,' says Moyle. Miranda Christophers, a sex and relationship psychotherapist and clinical director at The Therapy Yard, agrees that they can create different sensations, enhance exploration, add variety and playfulness, boost connection, and help people overcome sexual function issues. Moyle advises: 'If you're new to sex toys choose a simple vibrator, and trail it all over the body – not just focusing on the parts associated with sex. This can help build anticipation, desire and arousal.' 'Heterosexual men tend to believe that anal sex is a 'gay thing',' says Neves. 'This myth comes from poor sex education and gay male stereotypes, which can contribute to homophobia.' Anal sex can be enjoyed by anybody, regardless of sex, gender or sexuality. 'Numerous heterosexual men enjoy receiving anal sex. It stimulates the prostate (a gland found between the penis and rectum), which can be very pleasurable,' says Neves. Still, some men feel shame just for being curious about anal sex, and are less likely to seek information on how to practise it safely. 'Start slowly, because the lining of the anus is delicate. Access information on douching, and use plenty of lube,' Neves advises. 'You can start by trying a sex toy specifically designed for prostate massage to experiment with how it feels for you. Take it one step at a time.' 'The word 'drive' is a misnomer,' Jamea says. 'It's better understood as a motivational system that orients us towards pleasure, connection, novelty or emotional closeness.' Sexual desire is a lot more complex than the drive that comes from hunger or thirst. It also isn't static and can be shaped by context, stress, hormones, relationship dynamics, how much sleep you've had and how emotionally safe you feel with a partner. Jamea suggests trying to think of your sex drive as like a compass that points you towards what helps you feel most alive and connected. 'Rather than asking, 'Am I in the mood right now?', ask what conditions – individually, relationally or environmentally – could help me feel more open to desire.'
