Labour attacks social care funding proposals as ‘risky, uncertain and late’

By The Press Association5th January 2016News EnglandBusiness / Funding / Finance, Finance, Government / Politics, Local Authorities, News England, Social Care

Social care is “in crisis now”, yet the Government proposes “risky, uncertain and late funding”, Labour has claimed.

Shadow minister for older people, social care and carers Barbara Keeley told MPs almost 50% of the current “record” level of hospital delays and discharges were due to waits for a care package at home, adding this would worsen as winter pressures grow.

But Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Life Sciences George Freeman hit back, pointing towards the Chancellor’s announced £3.5 billion extra for social care from the new adult social care precept and the Better Care Fund.

Mr Freeman insisted the Government is “making real progress” on the issue of social care.

Speaking during Commons health questions, Ms Keeley said: “300,000 fewer older people have publicly funded care packages than in 2010. Nearly half the current record level of hospital delays, discharges are due to waits for a care package at home and this will get worse as winter pressures mount.

“It is risky that the proposed Better Care Fund increases are back-loaded, they don’t reach £1.5 billion until 2019/20. The social care precept funding is uncertain because it only raises £1.6 billion by 2020 if every single council decides to raise the maximum possible.

“Social care is in crisis now, can the minister tell us why his Government proposes risky, uncertain and late funding.”

Mr Freeman replied: “This is the most extraordinary welcome for one of the most important announcements in the Autumn Statement. Having come under pressure to raise more money for social care, the Chancellor and the Secretary of State announced £3.5 billion extra for social care from the new adult social care precept and the Better Care Fund and the Opposition say it isn’t enough and it will fail.

“The data doesn’t support that, if you look at the early data from the Better Care Fund only introduced by this Government earlier this year, 85,000 fewer delayed transfers, 12,500 more older people at home within three months of discharge, and 3,000 people supported to live independently.

“We are making real progress.”