Government warned social care crisis is real and it is happening right now
The country faces a “social care crisis” unless funding is increased, with knock-on effects likely to add to pressures on hospital A&E departments over the winter, ministers have been warned.
Chancellor Philip Hammond has come under fire after failing to allocate more money to social care in his Autumn Statement last week, with the head of the NHS Confederation saying it was “disappointing” and a “mistake”.
More than half of councils tasked with care for the elderly – 77 out of 152 – have had at least one residential and nursing care provider closed in the last six months, figures obtained by the Observer showed.
Meanwhile, 48 councils have seen at least one company that deals with helping to care for the elderly in their own home forced to close, according to the data.
New care arrangements were also sought by 59 councils after contracts were deemed by providers to be insufficiently funded to meet the needs required.
In a letter to the paper, the leaders of the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and independent groups of the Local Government Association warned: “The social care crisis is real and it is happening right now. The Government cannot ignore it any longer if we are to truly have a society that works for everyone.”
They said: “The fact the Government appears to have chosen not to act will lower the quality of life for our elderly and vulnerable residents.”
NHS Confederation chairman Stephen Dorrell said he was “very disappointed” that the Chancellor had not said anything about social care in his mini-budget statement.
“It was a mistake in my view not to make an investment in social care,” Tory former health secretary Mr Dorrell said.
Hospitals face problems with so-called bed blocking because they are unable to discharge elderly patients unless there are adequate social care arrangements in place, adding to winter pressures on the NHS.
Mr Dorrell (pictured) told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show: “There is no good going into this winter saying it is all going to be all right when we already have lengthening queues in A&E departments, we already have problems with hospitals unable to discharge people because of inadequate provision of social care.”
A Government spokesman said: “We’re supporting those most in need with a social care package worth £3.5 billion by 2019-20 compared to the £2.9 billion councils said they needed.
“We’ve also devolved new powers and funding to local areas so they can integrate health and social care, provide better services for older people, and plan for an ageing population.”
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2016, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) NHS Confederation.
