A CONTROVERSIAL Government u-turn on capping care costs for the elderly has come under fire in Worcestershire - amid claims it will have a "huge impact" on pensioners.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has faced a growing backlash in recent weeks after abandoning a manifesto commitment to cap lifetime care bills at £72,000 for over-65s until 2020 despite trumpeting the policy before the General Election.

Some critics believe the decision has cost taxpayers up to £100 million and it has also been criticised by some MPs within Mr Hunt's own party.

The move has led to Labour Councillor Robin Lunn urging County Hall's Conservative leadership to publicly slate the u-turn, saying they should make clear the impact on Worcestershire.

His plea has been rejected by Councillor Sheila Blagg, the cabinet member for adult social care, who says her staff will now prepare for its implementation in 2020.

Mr Lunn, speaking during a full council meeting, asked her if she "regretted the non-introduction" of the policy.

She said: "It is absolutely the right of our elected politicians in Government to change, alter, defer things as they wish and I respect that democratic process.

"In terms of the impact on Worcestershire, there won't be one because we hadn't got to the stage where we were looking to absolutely implement it immediately - and we'll continue to now plan for the 2020 changes."

Councillor Lunn replied: "Thanks for the answer although I have to say I find it a very bemusing one.

"The reason I put it (the question) was the fact that this was something which was in the Government's manifesto and had been reneged on within 10 weeks of the elections, nobody else put it there.

"You say it won't have any effect on Worcestershire, it'll have a huge impact on lots of people living in Worcestershire and surely that will have a knock-on impact on services.

"If you're (not starting) a £72,000 lifetime cap on people that has to have an impact on our county."

Councillor Blagg said: "If it had been introduced (in April 2016) the impact would have been felt as soon as it was introduced, as well as six months prior to that because that's when we would have been doing assessments.

"As it was no assessments came forward from those paying for their own care and we haven't gone out seeking self-funders."

Experts say huge sums of public money have been wasted on fees for employing the top advertising agency M&C Saatchi to explains the reforms included in the Care Act, on the development of IT systems to run it and the cost of running public consultations.

In their election manifesto the party specifically said "no one will have to sell their home to pay for care", but the policy was shelved in July.

It means the current situation in which anyone with assets of more than £23,250 must pay the full cost of care will continue.