At my advice surgeries and street stalls I'’ve had lots of complaints about the way Kent County Council charges my constituents for personal care at home. Other councils in other parts of the country seem far more generous in the way they interpret the rules and that’s not fair.

The trouble is that home care has always been means tested and the amount that councils charge has been left to them to determine. They have to abide by national guidelines but they have considerable latitude to interpret them in their own favour.

But thank goodness that’s all going to end because our new Personal Home Care Bill will guarantee free personal care for the 280,000 people - including those with serious dementia or Parkinson’s disease - with the highest needs.

The new proposals which will cost £670 million a year are the Government’s first step towards setting up a new National Care Service - a simple, fair and affordable system for everyone. Some of those already get free care – this Bill will protect their savings from future charges. Others will get free care for the first time and we will also help around 130,000 people who need home care for the first time to regain their independence.

Helping people to stay in their own homes and adjust their living conditions so they can stay safely, puts prevention at the heart of the system. This Bill will improve quality, empower people and their families – but this is just the first step in overhauling the care system.

The free personal care offer fits centrally into our vision for transforming adult social care and will act as a bridge to the National Care Service. Older people and younger disabled people tell me hat they would like to maintain their ability to live at home for as long as possible and this has been our policy objective for a number of years.

But we are now broadening the policy to include a wider number of people, many of whom have, up till now, funded all their own care and have not had access to the best information about what is available to support them to continue to live in their own homes.

So, in practice we will offer a period of intensive support to people when they first contact the local authority or, for people currently receiving services, when the local authority believes they may benefit. We will also help them identify whether any adaptations or technology can increase their independence and reduce their care needs, helping them save on the costs of their care and support. For those who continue to have the highest care needs we will offer free personal care, regardless of means.

I look forward to the time when we can deliver a totally free Nation Care Service on the same lines as the NHS, which is one of Labour’s proudest accomplishments. This new Bill is the first step toward that goal and it’s good news for my constituents who have been so critical of the status quo.

© Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2010