SECRETARY of State for Health Jeremy Hunt paid a visit to Cream Care in Taunton last week with Conservative prospective MP for Taunton Deane Rebecca Pow.

Ms Pow said: “The three homes run by Cream Care at Longrun House, in Taunton, are an exemplary example of top quality care for people with extreme needs and I wanted the secretary to see the system for himself.

“It is crucial that we ensure the best quality care we can for those who need it and at the same time develop a sound system for the care workers themselves.

“This will become even more important given that in Somerset 20% of our population is classed as elderly and demands on the care system will only increase.”

Mr Hunt added: “I was pleased that Rebecca Pow, our extremely able prospective MP for Taunton Deane invited me to visit Longrun House.

“Mr Petts has developed a sensitive and skilled service and I was delighted to have the chance to discuss key care issues with him in particular the way the assessment system for the homes themselves operates.

“Those with extreme needs require highly specialised care and this, together with the challenges facing us as a result of an ageing population, make it even more crucial that we continue our plan of economic recovery to ensure we have the funding to provide the kind of services we need to cope with these sectors.”