Nick Gibb MP together with Julian Hitchcock, owner and managing director of Aronel Cottage, a local care home in Bognor Regis, met the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Community Health and Care, at the Department of Health in Whitehall, to discuss social care, both nationally and in West Sussex. The Aronel Cottage care home has been rated as good by the Care Quality Commission and has won national awards for the level of care it provides in its 34 rooms.
In advance of the publishing of the Green Paper by the Department of Health on the subject of social care, Mr Hitchcock requested the meeting to discuss a range of issues, such as the so-called '12 week disregard' and bed blocking, given his experience in the profession over many years.
Nick Gibb said: ‘Social care is an issue if huge importance, both nationally and in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton because of the large elderly population. The announcement of an additional £2 billion funding for adult social care in the Spring Budget last week is very welcome and it was excellent to have Julian’s expertise when discussing possible steps forward for more effective social care provision in the meeting with the Minister today.’
Photo: from left, David Mowat MP, Julian Hitchcock, Nick Gibb MP