MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis, Sylvia Heal, held a special event to hear local people’s views on the future of social care on the 17^th October.

Nearly forty people attended the event and they overwhelmingly supported a comprehensive system of funding for the future.

Some of the key comments that came out of the event included how they disliked the postcode lottery, the success and amazing benefits of the NHS and how more support can be provided to help people stay well.

Sylvia Heal MP said: “I organised an event to give people in Halesowen and Rowley Regis a chance to have a say about how social care should be shaped. All the views from the discussions will be fed into the Government consultation and I will be lobbying Ministers to make sure everyone’s thoughts are heard. 

“I also received a number of survey responses on this issue and I would be really keen to hear peoples ideas if they would like to write to me”.

Notes to editors

The Government’s Green Paper consultation, ‘Shaping the Future of Care Together’ was published July 14^th and closes on the 13^th November 2009.

More information and how to respond can be found on the Department of Health’s website: www.dh.gov.uk

Sylvia’s electronic survey can also be completed at http://tiny.cc/ZEvyu