Mr Burstow published a Care and Support White Paper and draft Bill that will fix a fragmented and confusing care system, transforming it from one that only reacts in a crisis, to one that prevents people from needing help in the first place.

Key elements of the Coalition’s plans that will help people in Sutton include:Paul Burstow and the Coalition Government have also committed to ensuring no-one will be forced to sell their home in their lifetime to pay for care.

* New rights for carers will be enshrined in law for the first time ever, including training for more care workers to give high quality care and doubling the number of care apprenticeships to 100,000 by 2017.

* Putting an end to the postcode lottery of care by introducing a national eligibility threshold for basic care. Also ensuring people who move to a new area to be closer to relatives are able to maintain their care.

* Investing a further £300m between 2013 and 2015 to support integrated care and support across the NHS and social care.

Liberal Democrat Minister of State for Care Services Paul Burstow MP said: “People want a social care system that is fair, high quality and geared towards what people actually want. Our White Paper, draft Bill and progress report mark the most significant Government action in over 60 years to fix a system that is fragmented, confusing and massively variable in terms of quality and provision.

“We are reforming social care and will bring about lasting change to an overwhelmed and outdated system. Our plans will help to drive up standards of care for patients, bring about a more joined up preventative approach to care, enabling people to live independently for longer. It will help to allow people to become active members of their local community – helping them to stay independent and healthier for longer. Most importantly however, it will put people at the centre of their own care and give them more information to make the right choices about their needs.”