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RCN members are being encouraged to complete a short online survey to share their views on the future of social care in England. This will ensure that The RCN is responding to the Government Green Paper Shaping the Future of Care Together, which calls for a care debate and includes the idea of setting up a 'National Care Service'. The Government has ruled out paying for a new system through increasing taxes but has proposed three options for funding. The RCN has prepared a RCN Policy Briefing 1209: 'Shaping the future of care together' to explain the key issues and assist RCN members with formulating their response. The RCN ran a survey to gather views in order to shape its response and this consultation closed on 31 October 2009.

The RCN has highlighted that an effective social care system is widely considered as an essential part of any civilised society and the health sector cannot meet its responsibilities fully without working in partnership with a strong and capable social care sector. However in the press statement issued on the day of publication the RCN emphasised that the NHS was responsible for funding the nursing care of patients who have health needs, regardless of whether they are in hospital, a care home or their own home. The College noted that it would strongly oppose a system where responsibility for meeting the costs of nursing care was shifted onto the patient and subject to means-testing when it should be free on the NHS.

For further information, please email papa.ukintl.dept@rcn.org.uk