The King's Fund has published an analysis and called for an 'equal access' national assessment to eliminate a postcode lottery in accessing social care.
The CSP argues that tackling postcode inequalities in rehabilitation is essential to reducing health inequalities and easing pressure on social care. Without timely access to appropriate rehab, people risk losing independence and needing more support from social care services.
The new analysis from the King's Fund has found that the proportion of people accessing long-term social care is inconsistent between similar local authorities.
The King's Fund argues that the extent of differences in access to social care should lead to reform, including:
an 'equal access' national assessment
a cap on lifetime care costs
national, rather than local, funding for social care
Similarly, geographical inequalities affect access to rehab, with people's opportunities to recover, maintain independence and participate in everyday life shaped by the services available locally.
Sara Hazzard, CSP assistant director and co chair of the Community Rehabilitation Alliance, said: 'The King’s Fund analysis throws into sharp relief the significant variation in access to social care depending on where people live.
Rehabilitation can help people regain or maintain function, manage long-term conditions and avoid unnecessary dependence on health and social care services.
The CSP has long argued that access to rehab should be recognised as a universal right, so that people receive appropriate support according to their individual circumstances and needs, rather than where they live.
Rehabilitation must be embedded in efforts to tackle inequalities across health and social care to improve people's lives, support independence and make better use of public resources.
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