Funding for social care needs to be protected warn local Government leaders

Local Government leaders have warned that the funding for social care services needs to be protected by the same means that the NHS is in the next Budget before another crisis occurs, similar to those seen in A&E departments this winter.

The Local Government Association are asking for the Chancellor to use next month’s Budget as an opportunity to help protect social care funding which will enable councils to offer their support to the NHS as they make preparations for reforms to care services in April.

The Association has warned that without sufficient funding, vulnerable groups, such as disabled and older people could be without the support of social care services; services that enable them to remain independent, healthy and living in their own homes.

’Chronically underfunded social care system’

Chair of the LGA, cllr David Sparks, said: “This Budget must make sure adult social care is put on a sustainable financial footing. We can’t afford to waste this chance to get it right.

“Adult social care funding is in crisis. We have seen first-hand the devastating effects that a chronically underfunded social care system can have on people’s lives this winter by leaving them stuck in hospital without the care they need. No one wants to see their elderly mum or dad, or sick neighbour suffer at the hands of a system that is buckling under the strain of inadequate funding. Yet, if we don’t have a commitment to protect the money for adult social care now, we are staring in the face of this inexcusable pattern repeating itself year after year.”

Currently thousands of people in the UK are at risk of seeing family, friends, neighbours and relatives not having access to care services like washing, dressing and vital meals on wheels services that help them to keep their independence.

Cllr Sparks added: “Too many older people are being let down by a system which leaves them languishing in hospital beds while they wait for an alternative, or consigned to residential care because we lack the capacity to help them live independently. This has to stop.

“The combined pressures of insufficient funding, growing demand, escalating costs and a 40 per cent cut to local Government budgets across this Parliament mean that despite councils’ best efforts they are having to make tough decisions about the care services they can provide.

“It’s not enough for consecutive Governments to keep papering over the cracks with short term fixes. We urgently need a longer term solution that puts social care on a sustainable footing. Failure to do so will deprive our elderly of the care they deserve, create additional pressure on the NHS and push other local services over the edge.”

Most vulnerable groups are at risk

Health experts and council leaders have expressed concern that whilst councils are focused to cut their budgets but still investing money in the NHS is a ‘false economy.’ Council leaders have highlighted that due to funding cuts, they are unable to take pressure off the NHS leaving some of the most vulnerable groups at risk of losing access to crucial services.

Richard Hawkes, chair of the Care and Support Alliance, said: “The Care and Support Alliance supports the LGA Budget calls in relation to social care. We particularly welcome the focus on the link between spending on health and social care and the need to protect both.

“The LGA analysis of the reduction in social care funding makes it clear why the CSA hears so many stories of people failing to be supported to wash, dress, leave the house and communicate with those around them. This results in people withdrawing from society, becoming reliant on friends and family to provide care and support, often driving those relationships to crisis point. The only way to address this is sustained and consistent investment enabling local authorities to plan effectively to meet their duties in a sustainable way. Without this the social care system will remain in crisis.”

The LGA has expressed concern that a 40 per cent cut to local Government budgets has put pressure on the amount spent on adult social care services. In recent years, demand and costs have increased leaving councils to make difficult decisions about what services they can afford to offer.

The LGA had previously spoke about ‘crippling repercussions’ that failing to protect funding for social care could have on other council funded services, such as museums, libraries and fixing potholes.

Adult social care accounts for a large amount of local Government spending and during 2013-14, councils spent more than £14 billion on adult social care services. During 2014-15, it is estimated that 35 per cent of local Government spending was used for the provision of adult social care services compared to just 30 per cent in 2010-11.

Furthermore, there is concern that if social care funding is not protected, similar to the way that the NHS is, important services will suffer and, during the next two years and result in services being unavailable to a larger number of people than before.