P&R accused of delaying care funding decision

The long-term care insurance fund is predicted to run out in about 2050

Guernsey's top political committee has been accused of attempting to delay a decision on the funding of long-term care.

Employment and Social Security (ESS) President Peter Roffey said Policy and Resources (P&R) wanted to discuss the issue alongside the future of the island's public finances in 2026.

It follows a disagreement between ESS, P&R and Health and Social Care (HSC) over how long-term care should be funded.

P&R President Lyndon Trott said there was "a mix of views currently on the committee on how best to progress this work".

Mr Trott said he was keen for a debate on the issue this term, but has drawn a red-line on "a person's primary residence being factored into their assets as part of this".

But he stressed this was his personal view and throughout the committee there were differing opinions.

He said: "For some members of the committee, there is a view that these issues should be addressed in a wider context, alongside other major decisions about the overall sustainability of public finances, with demand increasing in many areas, in particular, health and social care."

'Time bomb'

Mr Roffey said he was "disappointed" the three committees could not come to a decision and he would be putting an interim solution forward.

He said his committee would come back to the States in October with plans to "make sure the capacity is there for care beds with an ageing population".

But he added this would likely put even more strain on the long-term care insurance fund.

The long-term care insurance fund is to help people in Guernsey and Alderney to cover the costs of residential or nursing care in a care home.

It was launched 20 years ago with a 15-year lifespan.

However, the most recent valuation from experts suggested the fund would be empty by about 2050 with current population trends.

Michelle Le Clerc, a former president of ESS, said putting off the debate was a "time bomb".

She suggested increasing contribution rates was the only tool in ESS's box to address the issues.

'Difficult decisions'

Earlier this year, Mrs Le Clerc predicted the States would be unable to make a decision on the future of long-term care.

She warned deferring this decision would lead to issues in the future.

"This is a time bomb, and pushing this decision down the road to 2026 will create even more difficult decisions in the future," she said.

"I expect care will be become rationed to either those who can afford it, and will be forced to pay as the money runs out; or those with no assets will be provided with care through income support, which further increases the tax burden."

She said the sector needed "confidence" for the future.

"We need more care homes to be built, we need confidence in the sector. We cannot expect people to live in old converted hotels. Fit-for-purpose accommodation needs to be provided," she said.

A spokesman for HSC said "it is important that any substantial changes proposed to long-term care and its funding are considered as part of the wider need to have a sustainable health and care system and public finances".

He added: "It is also apparent that without a decision on how to deliver long-term care sustainably, its services will not be able to meet growing demand."