Jul 6 2008
UNISON has raised concerns over government proposals to test individual budgets in primary and community care.
The union welcomed the drive towards transferring care and resources to community settings, outlined in the department of health's Primary and Community Care report, published today.
But it issued a health warning over the use of individual budgets.
"We believe that patients should have a greater say in their treatment and greater access to information about their care plans, but using individual budgets is not the way forward," said head of health Karen Jennings.
"There is a real danger that these budgets will pave the way towards means-testing and undermine the very principle of care being free at the point of need."
The union had already seen the government press ahead with personal budgets in social care, without waiting for the results of pilot schemes, she said.
"There is a real danger that these latest pilots will also be just a cursory step before rollout."
UNISON also expressed concern over the impact that social enterprise schemes will have on staff.
"Social Enterprises are likely to be fragile organisations and subject to predatory takeover by the private sector - and staff would then lose their pensions guarantee," said Ms Jennings.