End in sight for postcode lottery?

Finally.

After years of grumbling by people in the care system, the government has finally announced that the eligibility criteria governing older and disabled people’s right to receive care services is to be reviewed.

In theory, this review could see the end of the unacceptable ‘postcode lottery’ of care services. But we should not get too excited – the credit crunch could see any reform stymied.

One of the most common gripes I hear is the unfairness of the care services system, where someone in one area is denied – in some cases life-saving – drugs, while elsewhere they’re available.

The Commission for Social Care Inspection has been asked to undertake the review and report back to Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis in the autumn. CSCI’s brief is to focus on national definitions of need and the application at a local level.

At least the review is focusing on the right area. A set of national guidelines for eligibility, which are not open to interpretation at a local level, is crucial. All too often local officials have their own take on the rules and this needs to be stopped. Access to care services should not rely on the luck of where you happen to live.

But much of the postcode lottery is borne out of a lack of adequate funding for social care services. Many councils have ramped up their eligibility criteria in recent years to save money and plug huge holes in their budgets.

And with the credit crunch and resulting economic downturn, it is unlikely the government will start pouring extra cash into council budgets to fill those holes.

So while this review is to be welcomed, how much effect will it really have? If any major reforms happen, they will be down to the economic situation and the prospects for the moment are looking grim.