There’s still time for you to make yourself heard in the Big Care Debate, the consultation to discuss the reform of adult care and support in England.

DH staff and ministers have been touring the country, talking to people about the options for a new National Care Service, set out in the Green Paper Shaping the Future of Care Together.

‘It has been really inspiring, meeting people and hearing their stories,’ says Phil Hope, Minister of State for Care Services.

‘We have all been bowled over by how engaged many people are in this debate. Their passion has been remarkable. There are so many stories, some good and some not so good. People have very different experiences of the care and support system, just as they have different expectations and ask different things of it.’

Say it your way

Thousands more people have joined the debate through the care and support website, by filling in the Big Care Questionnaire, or public leaflet, which has been placed in GP surgeries and other public places.

The web-optimised version of the Green Paper, which lets users comment on each page as they read, is a Government first; as is the Face of Care application, which lets people upload a photo of themselves and then ages it to show them how they might look in 20 years’ time.

It’s proved a good way to grab the attention of younger people for whom the issue of care, and old age in general, seems a long way off. Social media has also played a huge part: Twitter news alerts and Facebook have offered a place where people can discuss issues.

‘We’ve seen Facebook users giving each other advice on careers in care and support, and how to source information locally,’ says Helen Everton, Head of Green Paper Communications. ‘It’s not all strictly about the Big Care Debate, but getting people to discuss the issues is still good.’

The Big Care Debate ends on13 November, and all the comments gathered over the past three months will be collated to help write the White Paper on Care and Support, which will be published in 2010.

‘This is a great opportunity for us all to shape the future of care together.’ says Phil Hope. ‘If we can get it right we will create something of which we can all be proud.’

Have your say at www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk