Care leader demands 'second wave' money for social care this winter like NHS

The co-chair of the Care Association Alliance is demanding social care be treated like the NHS and receive government money to protect it against a second wave of COVID-19 this winter.

Melanie Weatherley, who is also the chief executive of Walnut Care At Home, has said she is “disappointed” the government will give NHS Trusts in England £300m to help fight a possible second wave of the virus this winter, while social care receives no money for a second wave.

Ms Weatherley, who is also the chair of the Lincolnshire Care Association (LCA), issued a statement on the LCA website.

She said of the £300m funding given for the NHS to fight a possible second wave of COVID-19: "We are disappointed that social care has yet to receive a similar pledge".

The care leader, who received an MBE from the Queen for services to social care in the 2020 New Year’s Honours list, said: "The sector’s need for additional funding is becoming very urgent or we will be unable to sustain our support for society’s older and vulnerable people.”

The Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund, she said, is due to run out at the end of September, with the government yet to confirm any support after this.

“Since July, I have been calling on Parliament for more support in the event of a second wave, so care providers will not be financially-impacted – or once again forced to rely on scarce resources.

“We are asking that social care gets the same consideration, so we can be around to support them in taking care of those who need it most.”

The Department of Health and Social Care has stated it has funded a care home support package worth £600m and made a further £3.7bn available to councils to address challenges caused by the pandemic in adult social care.

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