The prime minister has ruled out a move to provide free long term care for the elderly, as is the case in Scotland.

Although a BBC poll found that the public by a large margin believed that this should be the government's number one priority, Tony Blair said that free care for the elderly would cost £1 billion which the government wants to spend in different ways, with changes to raise standards.

Forum Response: Counsel and Care

Les Knight, deputy chief executive of Counsel and Care, told ePolitix.com: "Counsel and Care has consistently backed the findings of the Royal Commission on Long Term Care [of February 1999], in particular the recommendation that both personal care and nursing care should be provided free to all elderly people.

"The BBC programme on 20 February, asking viewers to vote on their top priority for the NHS delivered a resounding verdict, with the number of people voting for this topic exceeding the votes cast for the other four 'top' priorities added together.

"This vote shows the widespread concern for some of our society's most frail and vulnerable people and offers government the clearest possible indication of the future direction for public policy in this key area.

"Running an advice service for older people and their carers we speak to many people who remain confused and anxious because of the present system."

Forum Response: Help the Aged

A spokesperson for Help the Aged told ePolitix.com: "This new BBC poll shows that the long term care of older people is no longer the Cinderella of the NHS, but a top priority for the general population. The government has shown itself to be out of step with popular opinion.

"As Scotland legislates for free personal care, the government's unfair and unworkable system of trying to distinguish free 'nursing' care from means-tested 'personal' care will prove itself to be untenable in principle and in practice."