Care review opportunity 'must not be wasted' urge Age UK

THE charity Age UK has urged senior politicians not to waste the opportunity to reform the Social Services care sector.

Cross-party talks aimed at improving Government-funded care and support for the elderly and disabled in England are due to begin again, with Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and his Lib Dem care services minister Paul Burstow meeting Labour's spokesmen for Health on Tuesday.

Similar talks broke down acrimoniously before the 2010 election and Age UK are not the only campaigners urging the politicians to move the issue forward and consider major change.

To coincide with the start of the talks, Age UK released polling suggesting the majority of the public wanted to see the social care system changed, reports the BBC.

The survey of more than 1,700 adults, which was carried out by YouGov, showed that 81% believed the government should do more to support the care needs of the elderly.

Three-quarters said they wanted to see a cap on the costs individuals could end up paying.