PEOPLE

Professor Carol Jagger of the Department of Health Sciences and Director of the Leicester Nuffield Research Unit.

University of Leicester Professor gives expert evidence at House of Commons

Advice on Social Care provided by leading academic

Issued on 06 November 2009

A University of Leicester Professor has given expert evidence on social care to a Government Select Committee.

Professor Carol Jagger, of the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Leicester, attended the Health Committee meeting in The Wilson Room at Westminster on November 5.

Following the publication of the Green Paper Shaping the Future of Care Together, the Health Committee decided to undertake an inquiry into the future of social care services. The inquiry is looking at options for:

• future funding of long-term residential and domiciliary care for older people and people with physical or learning disabilities;

• personalisation of social care services;

• more effective, consistent and user-friendly social care services.

Professor Jagger, who is Director of the Leicester Nuffield Research Unit at the University, is among a number of individuals and organisations invited to give oral evidence to the Committee.

She was questioned on the future levels of dependency given the ageing of the population and trends in key diseases. She told the Committee that by 2017 both men and women aged 65 could expect a further 20 years of life on average.

She said “ Mortality from key diseases such as coronary heart disease and stroke is declining. However dependency in those aged 85 and over, who are the fastest growing section of our population, is often caused by multiple diseases, making it harder to improve.

The Health Committee is a Select Committee of the House of Commons. It is appointed under Standing Order No.152 to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department of Health and associated public bodies. The Committee has the power to send for persons, papers and records.

Current Membership of the Health Committee is:

• Rt Hon Kevin Barron MP (Chairman) [L] Rother Valley
• Charlotte Atkins MP [L] Staffordshire Moorlands
• Peter Bone MP [C] Wellingborough
• Jim Dowd MP [L] Lewisham West
• Sandra Gidley MP [LD] Romsey
• Stephen Hesford MP [L] Wirral West
• Dr Doug Naysmith MP [L] Bristol North West
• Mr Lee Scott MP [C] Ilford North
• Dr Howard Stoate MP [L] Dartford
• Mr Robert Syms MP [C] Poole
• Dr Richard Taylor MP [IND] Wyre Forest

Click here to view a video for Health Committee sessions.

NOTE TO NEWSDESK

For more information, contact:

Carol Jagger

Professor of Epidemiology and Director Leicester Nuffield Research Unit Department of Health Sciences

Tel: +44 (0)116 252 3211

Fax: +44 (0)116 252 5423

Email: cxj@le.ac.uk