News

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responds to a survey published today by the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group, which reveals that nearly 70 per cent of the disability care sector is threatened by the liability for sleep-in costs paid to carers.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responds to the latest figures published today by NHS England on the delayed transfers of care.

"With housing for elderly people currently accounting for just 6 per cent of our existing stock, and more older people and families renting privately than ever before, there needs to be a national focus on tackling a chronic shortage of homes suitable to support our ageing population and reforms that will maintain and improve housing standards."

“Social care needs to be put on an equal footing with the NHS and government needs to address immediate pressures as part of funding gap facing social care, which is set to exceed £2 billion by 2020.”

“Government should first make a down-payment on the green paper by injecting additional resources into the system to fund immediate funding pressures which are set to exceed £2 billion by 2020. This will enable the system to stay afloat until such time as the green paper reforms bring in new resources.”

"When the £2 billion for adult social care was announced by the Government in last year’s Spring Budget, it said this could be spent in three ways – meeting adult social care needs, reducing pressures on the NHS, and ensuring the local provider market was supported."

“Choosing care for a loved one is a major and often stressful decision - especially when they have to be made quickly – as it has health and wellbeing implications for the person who needs caring for."

“Increased demand on social care services, underfunding, and the retention and recruitment of staff, have been linked to short care visits, which may not allow care workers enough time to help prepare a hot, nutritious meal."

“Prioritising funding for the NHS over social care will not help reduce pressures on hospitals. Instead of making costly short-term bailouts to treat the symptoms of pressures, money would be better invested in treating the causes of these pressures."

“Extra funding for social care can empower councils to prioritise prevention work which is key to reducing the pressures on the health service and keeping people out of hospital in the first place. This will help alleviate the chances of winter crises happening in the future."