The Guardian has a full interview with, and feature on, Sir Norman Lamb, who has recently joined a new cross-party group of former health ministers demanding more funding for care workers.
In it, Norman calls for a resilience taskforce to reduce the psychological fallout of the pandemic:
This current crisis simply strengthens the case for confronting it [the social care funding gap]. But the combination of failing to confront it and the state of public finances makes me very worried … then so many more people across our country will be failed by the system…
…I’m relieved that there is a recognition that money is vitally needed to respond to the psychological fallout from Covid. It should be targeted at those communities most affected and the economic damage caused by the pandemic. The extra funding for the NHS is certainly positive but it is critical that this is matched by additional support for social care. I’m worried that nothing has been said about this.
You can read the full feature here.
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2 Comments
Probably every family in the country has had a member who has been affected in some way by mental health issues. During the five years, 2010-15, that we don’t like to talk about, our policies on mental health gave us a distinctive edge and practical way of showing the public what a caring, generous Liberal Britain might look like. Regretably, in our post 2015 trauma we drifted off into other, less relatable policy areas. This is an area of policy that needs to come back up the agenda.
This piece also makes me realise how much we need the likes of NL, the best leader we never had (of recent years anyway).
Cancer, and other serious illnesses has not been supported. I do have great sympathy for those suffering.
I know, I waited for dental treatment for year, with no answer when.
I’ve now found a dentist who is accessible for wheelchairs and see him in a week. I will have to pay, no other option.
I feel the situation is not transparent, and only Covid has the support.
Graphs, have been suspect.