Adult social care is a vital service, supporting people’s independence and wellbeing. It strengthens our communities, helps sustain our NHS and adds essential economic value to our country. We estimate that, since 2010, councils have had to bridge a £6 billion funding shortfall just to keep the adult social care system going.
Key messages
- Adult social care and public health services enable people to maintain their own health, wellbeing and independence and reduce the need for NHS services, in particular primary and secondary care. This is evidenced by councils’ work with partners to reduce the number of delayed transfer of care days attributable to social
- care.
- Councils continue to do great work in keeping people healthy and since taking on responsibilities for public health, 80 per cent of the 112 indicators in the public health outcomes framework have been level or improving. This is despite cuts to public health budgets of £700 million in real terms by the end of 20201.
- Other council services, such as planning, housing, recreation, leisure and community support also play a part in keeping people healthy, resilient and independent. These all help to reduce the pressure on the NHS.
- Councils have protected social care relative to other services, despite this adult social care faces a £1 billion funding gap next year, rising to £3.6 billion by 2025. This is needed simply to keep on providing existing support at current levels and would not meet the cost of changing the current model of provision, or include the funding needed to tackle under met and unmet need.
- It is important that the Spending Round and other fiscal announcements address the challenges facing council’s services, particularly in social care and public health.
Download the full briefing
Debate on Treasury funding for the Department of Health and Social Care, House of Commons, 4 September 2019