Social care is one of the most important council responsibilities. Care services are provided to the most vulnerable in our society and it is our belief that we should look after those who need support. To do this we need to bring our social care system into the modern age. Social care must ensure people are looked after in ways appropriate to their needs by maximising their independence and maintaining their dignity in old age.
We will give you more choice over the care you receive so that it matches your needs. We want to see local councils and the NHS make greater use of personal budgets for care services - developing a personalised support plan that individuals can influence and control themselves to ensure it meets their needs.
Welsh Liberal Democrats will connect the disjointed provision of health and social care. We want to improve collaboration between the NHS and care services, beginning by extending the use of shared budgeting and collaborative working between the NHS and Social Services in order to reduce delayed transfers of care. In Swansea, we have invested extra money in social services and helped turn the department around.
This fits in with the work we have been doing where we run councils to ensure that services are reliable and give people freedom over the care they receive. In Powys, we gave free leisure centre access to the war wounded. In Conwy, we have developed a card to help carers receive council services at a reduced cost - rewarding them for the work they do.
Welsh Liberal Democrat councillors have also campaigned against ill-conceived hospital closures where there is no clinical reason for the change. We have marched against any possible down-grading of the hospital in Bronglais and opposed the temporary closures of Minor Injuries Units across Wales. We believe that better care is provided in local facilities and that closing them can worsen care provision and increase costs.
Our approach will support healthier living.
