Gerry Steinberg, MP for Durham City, has again backed the needs of dementia sufferers in long term care.
An Early Day Motion calls for the Government to reassess its policy on the funding of long-term care.
EDM 415, to which Gerry has added his signature, reads in full:
EDM 415
FUNDING CARE OF DEMENTIA SUFFERERS
That this House recognises that the majority of families care for relatives suffering with dementia at home, is concerned, however, that under present arrangements, when they eventually agree their loved ones' needs would be better met by professional nursing care, they will not receive the assessed rate of free nursing care direct, it instead being paid to nursing home owners; notes that such arrangements have merely led to the majority of owners simply increasing fees to justify extra payments; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to reassess its policy on the funding of long-term care and to agree to fund nursing care in residential settings to stop such abuse of public funds.
February 2003
He has signed a further Early Day Motion on this calling for the government to recognise public concern in this area.
Full details on Gerry Steinberg's website.
That this House acknowledges the result of the BBC's NHS Day poll where respondents called on the Government to make free long-term care for the elderly its top funding priority; notes too the recent report of the Institute for Public Policy Research which also gave strong support to the case for free long-term care; recalls that the previous EDM 351 calling for free long-term care has been signed by 126 honourable Members by 19th March; considers that free long-term care is a vital service and recognises that its provision is of great concern to people across the whole country; and therefore calls on the Government fully to fund both personal and nursing care so that it is free at the point of use throughout the United Kingdom.March 2002
He has signed Early Day Motion 351 which calls for the implementation of the Royal Commission's proposals and says that "that distinguishing between personal and nursing care is impractical and will prove unworkable". The motion also calls for "the Government fully to fund personal and nursing care that is free at the point of use for all who need long-term care".
Gerry Steinberg has previously shown his concern for carers and his support for the work of the Alzheimer's Society in the House of Commons.
November 2001