Commentary on Sections Part 4 : Social Care
238.This section of the Act is designed to improve the system of funding long term care, as set out in The NHS Plan: The Government’s Response to the Royal Commission on Long Term Care. In addition, it will give local authorities powers to place people in residential care homes and nursing homes outside England and Wales, and it will allow regulations to make provision for direct payments so as to extend the scope of the existing direct payments scheme, allowing individuals more choice and control over the services they receive.