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“The findings of this report and the link between financial problems caused by caring, and social isolation, highlight the need for government to set out how it will address the needs of carers in its long-awaited Carers Strategy."

Patients could have to wait longer for sexual health services with visits to clinics up by 25 per cent in five years at the same time as funding for councils to provide vital public health services has been cut.

"Councils are committed to ensuring drug users get the right support and treatment, and spend more on drug and alcohol treatment than in any other area of public health. This year alone, local authorities are budgeting to spend more than £700 million on tackling substance misuse."

Councils have been awarded funding for projects which use digital technology to transform and improve social care.

Lord Porter, Chairman of the Local Government Association, responded to the Chancellor's Budget announcement that councils will receive £2 billion extra funding for social care over the next three years.