12:19pm Friday 2nd March 2007
A MAN is calling on the Prime Minister to fund long-term care for the sick and elderly.
Stephen Johnson, of Strawberry Lane in Acton Bridge, is fighting for the authorities to pay for his brother Rod's care.
These people have paid taxes and national insurance all their lives, and then suddenly they get taxed again when they become ill by funding their own long-term care. It's a disgrace.
Stephen Johnson
Stephen said: "Tony Blair said at the Labour Party Conference in 1997 that he didn't want his children brought up in a country where pensioners had to sell their homes to pay for long term care.
"Since then approx 700,000 homes have been sold to pay for care.
"This applies to sick people of all ages. These people have paid taxes and national insurance all their lives, and then suddenly they get taxed again when they become ill by funding their own long-term care. It's a disgrace."
Rod, 53, had a massive stroke in 2005 and was treated in Warrington General Hospital before moving to Northwich.
He is now funding his own care at Redwalls Nursing Home because the authorities refuse to pay.
Under the current system, the NHS will meet all costs of long-term care if it is deemed to be for medical reasons, but if it is considered social care the costs are means tested with the patient expected to pay for some or all of their care costs.
Stephen has now started a petition on the Government's number 10 website and - in just six days - more than 200 people have signed up.
One of those is Pam Coughlan, who won a landmark case in the Court of Appeal in 1999.
Steve Paget MBE, Cornwall says...
6:36pm Fri 2 Mar 07
STEPHEN JOHNSON OF CONTINUINGCARECAMPAIGN.INFO, Acton Bridge, Cheshire. says...
7:02pm Fri 2 Mar 07
STEPHEN JOHNSON OF CONTINUINGCARECAMPAIGN.INFO, Acton Bridge, Cheshire. says...
7:02pm Fri 2 Mar 07
Pam Coughlan (Court of Appeal Winner 1999)., Exeter. says...
4:52pm Sat 3 Mar 07
Pam Coughlan (Court of Appeal Winner 1999)., Exeter. says...
4:52pm Sat 3 Mar 07
Linda Everett, Southampton says...
7:07pm Sat 3 Mar 07
Linda Everett, Southampton says...
7:07pm Sat 3 Mar 07
Margaret O'Brien, Southampton says...
11:52am Sun 4 Mar 07
Margaret O'Brien, Southampton says...
11:52am Sun 4 Mar 07
Robin Lovelock, Sunninghill says...
7:26pm Sun 4 Mar 07
Robin Lovelock, Sunninghill says...
7:26pm Sun 4 Mar 07
Robin Lovelock, Sunninghill says...
7:27pm Sun 4 Mar 07
Robin Lovelock, Sunninghill says...
7:27pm Sun 4 Mar 07
Aneurin Bevan, Tredegar says...
6:13pm Mon 5 Mar 07
Aneurin Bevan, Tredegar says...
6:13pm Mon 5 Mar 07
S. FOX., Cheshire says...
6:52am Tue 6 Mar 07
S. FOX., Cheshire says...
6:52am Tue 6 Mar 07
Steve Paget MBE, stevepaget@hotmail.com says...
8:19am Tue 6 Mar 07
Steve Paget MBE, stevepaget@hotmail.com says...
8:19am Tue 6 Mar 07
Stephen Johnson of www.continuingcarecampaign.info., Acton Bridge, Cheshire. says...
9:54am Tue 6 Mar 07
Stephen Johnson of www.continuingcarecampaign.info., Acton Bridge, Cheshire. says...
9:54am Tue 6 Mar 07
Barbara Law, Cheshire says...
12:26am Wed 7 Mar 07
Barbara Law, Cheshire says...
12:26am Wed 7 Mar 07
Bill Watt, West Yorkshire says...
12:45pm Mon 9 Apr 07
Bill Watt, West Yorkshire says...
12:45pm Mon 9 Apr 07
Mr John Robertson Lee, Pembrokeshire says...
5:46pm Thu 29 Nov 07
Mr John Robertson Lee, Pembrokeshire says...
5:46pm Thu 29 Nov 07
Linda Clancy, cheshire says...
9:54pm Sat 23 Feb 08
Linda Clancy, cheshire says...
9:54pm Sat 23 Feb 08
Steve Hickin, Reading Berkshire says...
2:27am Wed 23 Apr 08
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Steve Paget MBE, Cornwall says...
6:36pm Fri 2 Mar 07
The situation that exists is blatantly targeted at, and discriminates against those members of our society who are least able to represent themselves.
This needs to be discussed at a National level and, dare I suggest, an enquiry launched into why so many people are being denied access to this service.