Chancellor warned economic growth requires home care investment

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is being urged to invest in home care because economic growth depends on “the availability of good quality home-based support and care” according to Dr Jane Townson, chief executive of the Homecare Association.

Home care leader: 'Wealth is dependent on health'

After hearing Prime Minister Liz Truss tell the nation she is focused on economic growth, Jane Townson said: “Never has there been a more important time to stand up to make what matters stand out.

“Our government is focusing on economic growth. Wealth is dependent on health and it is important to enable people to remain well and economically active if they wish.

"Keeping people out of hospital, ensuring they can access diagnosis and treatment in the NHS in a timely manner if needed, and supporting them to return home from hospital if admitted, are dependent on availability of good quality home-based support and care."

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to make public spending cuts

On Friday, October 14, Prime Minister Liz Truss sacked her former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and replaced him Jeremy Hunt, who is the Chair of the House of Common's Health and Social Care Committee. The new chancellor is also a former health and social care secretary (2012-2018).

Today in his emergency statement, Jeremy Hunt said all government departments would be asked to find efficiencies to address the country's economic issues. Mr Hunt said government spending in “some areas” will be cut.

Jeremy Hunt said: "We will reverse almost all the tax measures announced in the growth plan [mini-budget] three weeks ago that have not started parliamentary legislation.

“We will continue with the abolition of the health and social care levy and stamp duty changes."

Investing in home care 'reduces costs for health and care system'

Jane Townson said: “Investing in home care and community support will allow us to grow and develop the workforce and innovate, so we can enable people to live well at home, extend healthy life expectancy, reduce inequalities, take pressure off the NHS and reduce costs for the health and care system.”

As well as changes in government, changes have been made in the Homecare Association’s Board of Directors.

Martin Jones, who is the chief executive of Home Instead UK, was elected chair of the Homecare Association on 13 October.

Six new non-executive directors have been elected by Homecare Association's members to the Association's Board to represent the UK home care sector.

At its Annual General Meeting on 12 October, the Homecare Association announced the election to its Board of Directors of Paula Beaney from Promedica24, Mitch Miller from Ashridge Home Care, Sharon Lowrie from Be Caring, Andrew Needham from Trinity Homecare, Mario Abajo Menguez from Clece Care and the election of Martin Jones.

The Homecare Association’s newly elected vice chairs are Mario Abajo Menguez, the chief executive at Clece Care and Lucy Campbell, the chief executive at Right at Home.

John Rennison, chief executive at 1st Homecare is the new treasurer and Polly Munyeza, owner at Support Unlimited UK is the Homecare Association’s honorary secretary.

Jane Townson added: “We must continue to make the case for investing in home care to enable us all to live well at home and flourish in our communities.”