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Simon Hughes MPRepresenting Southwark and Bermondsey since 1983 |
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Simon Hughes MP calls for local conference on health and social care for the elderly
May 10, 2012 1:00 PM
Simon Hughes MP calls for local conference on health and social care for the elderly
Today (Thursday, 10th May) Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, hosted the latest meeting of the Southwark Pensioners Parliament at the House of Commons.
The Pensioners Parliament had as its main business a debate on proposals from the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust to reduce elderly inpatient beds.
At the event, Simon proposed a conference on 'health and social care for the retired', to be held in Southwark this summer. Mr Hughes said that he would invite Paul Burstow, the Minister of State for Care Services, to come and explain the government's vision for the future of care and its long-term reform.
Speaking after the conference, Simon said:
"Just over 10 million people in the UK are over 65 years old, and of those, three million are over 80 years old - a figure expected to double by 2030. This change in age profile, with the UK's population becoming older as people live longer, means we need to look much more carefully at how the health and social care needs of the elderly are provided and funded.
"I hope the minister will be able to come to Southwark over the next few months and discuss with local residents government planning for the future."