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Personal Care at Home Bill

My Lords, listening to this discussion I find myself slightly confused because it strikes me we are moving from a situation where there would be a sudden implementation date. However, the Minister’s reassurances suggest that local authorities will have somewhat of an ease-in, ease-out option. I certainly do not deny the stress on local authorities—the fact that they are suddenly facing a great deal of work—but I am also well aware that there are desperately worried users and their carers who are faced with the question of whether they must move from their own homes or whether they are able to sit it out. It is a desperately important issue for them. I am aware also that it is human nature to start knuckling down to implementing change only when the deadline is looming—whenever that deadline is. I cannot help feeling that with some of the work that must be done, there is a point where one just has to say that you need to get on and do it. The assessment processes are, by and large, already worked through. The professionals are already assessing patients; certainly the systems have to be worked through and must be streamlined so that they are fair. It would help me greatly if the Minister could confirm my understanding from her reassurance—that there is now somewhat of an ease-in, ease-out process so that instead of there being a sudden transition, as this amendment would create, there is a period of grace. Can she also confirm that where there is undue pressure, every effort is made neither to jeopardise the users and carers nor to allow the whole system to come crashing down because of the local authorities?