A POSTCODE lottery in paying for long-term care in the NHS has been attacked by a powerful Commons group led by Wakefield MP David Hinchliffe.
The Commons Health Select Committee said that for over 10 years care funding in England had been marked by confusion, complexity and inequality.
The MPs criticised the situation where someone may be forced to use their life savings and equity from their home to pay for their care - while someone living just a few miles away could receive their care free.
The MPs' report, NHS Continuing Care, said funding arrangements were too complex and a single set of new national eligibility criteria was needed.
Mr Hinchliffe, the committee chairman, said that despite attempts by successive governments to tackle funding arrangements for long-term care, the system was still confusing.
He added: "Our witnesses found it impossible to give a firm definition of what is health care and what is social care.
"Carers providing complex medical support for their loved ones are denied funding because they are not registered nurses. If the same care was given by a registered nurse, it would be regarded as nursing care and fully funded.
The MPs also said that one in three women and one in five men would eventually need long-term residential care.
The Help the Aged charity welcomed the report.
