Outgoing ADASS chief explains support for Dilnot

Former President of ADASS, Peter Hay, has warned against letting the fear of ‘failure to achieve perfection’, get in the way of change.

In his final blog published to coincide with the end of his presidential term, Peter explains why ADASS has consistently, but not unconditionally, supported implementation of the Dilnot Commission recommendations. He highlights five points as underpinning the organisation’s position:

Universal support – personal spending on care is growing each year, with people in some areas buying 80 per cent of residential care, and receiving no support from the state. Under Dilnot’s proposals all citizens will be treated equally and fairly, which is consistent with the ADASS aim of universal care and well-being for all.  

Freedom from fear – 25 per cent of people face care costs greater than £50k. Dilnot’s recommendations are about taking away the fear of costs that can lead to people losing their homes and other assets - an approach that resonates with the origins of the welfare state, but is placed in a modern context.

Prevention – ADASS recently revisited work it did a decade ago on creating a system based on prevention, community capacity and maintaining wellbeing. Dilnot presents the opportunity of setting up a legally binding system that has preventative care at its core, an approach that is consistent with ADASS’s aspirations.

Funding – Dilnot’s appraisal of insurance schemes to pay for care finds they are inadequate; likewise, finance experts say insurance products do not offer the kind of protection the population needs. ADASS believes this expert advice has to be taken seriously.

Capped system – ADASS is persuaded that a capped system has the best chance of providing protection against astronomical care costs to the greatest percentage of the population.

Peter confirms that change will not be without risk and says: “We are also clear that there are downsides to some of the consequences of Dilnot and reform no major change comes without some potential adverse impact.

“However, no system like Dilnot has been tried anywhere, and like any system it won’t be perfect. We can’t talk ourselves into failure to design perfection as a basis for no change, when the proposals are such a step forward from where we are now.”

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