Care services minister continues national tour

Care services minister Ivan Lewis has continued his national tour to talk about the future of care and support on the NHS and the promotion of dignity.

Arriving in Leicester yesterday, Mr Lewis also met with local experts to discuss the future of the care and support system.

Mr Lewis will visit every region as part of the campaign to raise the profile of the Dignity in Care initiative.

The Department of Health notes that over the next two decades the number of people aged over 65 in the east Midlands will increase by 180,400, while the number of people aged over 85 will increase by 34,800.

The minister said: “I am pleased to be here in Leicester to discuss two of the most important issues facing society – how to promote dignity in care for all elderly people and how we create a high quality, affordable care and support system for a rapidly ageing population.”

He added that the government has invested 117 million pounds to help provide services with a foundation of dignity and respect.

Last month, the government announced the publication of a draft NHS constitution for consultation following year-long dialogue with patients, staff and the general public.